RECOLLECTIONS 


OF    A 


VIRGINIAN 


BY 


GENERAL  DABNEY    H    MAUR.Y 


LIBRARY 

J2KVEBSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVTS 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF 
A  VIRGINIAN 


/ 


•~tsf 


C*~^*~<tAs**-4 


/• 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  A  VIRGINIAN 


IN  THE 


MEXICAN,  INDIAN,  AND  CIVIL  WARS 


BY 


GENERAL  DABNEY  HERNDON  MAURY 

EX-UNITED  STATES  MINISTER  TO  COLOMBIA 


NEW  YORK 

CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 
1894 


LIBRARY 

I/NtVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


COPYRIGHT,  1894,  BY 
CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS. 


Cijiltiren 


I  AFFECTIONATELY  INSCRIBE  THESE  MEMOIRS  OF  AN  OLD 
SOLDIER  TO  MY  DEVOTED  CHILDREN,  WHO  FOR  TWENTY 
YEARS  HAVE  BEEN  THE  SOLACE  AND  PRIDE  OF  MY 
LIFE.  AND  I  WISH  TO  ACKNOWLEDGE  MY  SPECIAL 
DEBT  OF  GRATITUDE  TO  MY  DAUGHTER  ROSE,  WHOSE 
ENCOURAGEMENT  AND  PRACTICAL  AID  HAVE  BEEN  OF 
THE  GREATEST  HELP  TO  ME  IN^THE  PREPARATION  OF 
THIS  VOLUME 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER    I 

PAGE 

Fredericksburg,  its  People  and  its  History — Traditions  of 
George  Washington  and  of  the  Lees  —  Anecdotes  of 
Other  Famous  Men  and  Quaint  Characters  of  the  Town  — 
Country  Homes  of  the  Gentry  —  General  Lafayette's  Visit 

—  The  Maury  Family  —  Social  Life  before  the  War  — The 
Generous  Hospitality  of  the  Old  Days  I 

CHAPTER   II 

Captain  John  Minor  Maury's  Active  and  Adventurous  Life  — 
Personal  Traits  of  Matthew  Fontaine  Maury — His  Char 
acter  and  his  Scientific  Achievements  —  At  the  University 
of  Virginia  —  Shakespeare  CaldwelPs  Career  —  A  Cadet  at 
West  Point  —  Incidents  of  the  Life  there  —  Anecdotes  of 
Grant,  McClellan,  Jackson,  and  Others  .  .  .  .14 

CHAPTER   III 

Graduated  at  West  Point  and  off  for  the  Mexican  War  — 
Operations  of  the  Campaign  under  General  Scott  and 
General  Taylor  —  Anecdotes  of  these  Commanders  — 
Other  Officers  who  became  Eminent  in  the  Civil  War  — 
The  Capture  of  Vera  Cruz  —  Wounded  at  Cerro  Gordo 

—  In  the  Hospital  —  The  Journey  to  Jalapa      ...       27 

CHAPTER   IV 

Recollections  of  Jalapa  —  General  Harney  and  the  Seminoles 

—  White  Sulphur  Springs  and  its  Patrons  before  the  War 


Vlll  CONTENTS 


PAGE 

—  The'-Ashby  Brothers  —  Ordered  to  West  Point  as  In 
structor  —  Sports  and  Jokes  of  the  Officers'  Mess  —  An 
ecdotes  of  McClellan,  Fitz  John  Porter,  and   Others  — 
Shooting  and  Other  Excursions 42 

CHAPTER  V 

The  Rifles  ordered  to  Oregon  —  Captain  Stuart's  Tragic  Fate 

—  Reminiscences  of  McClellan — His  Capacity  and  Char 
acter   Illustrated — His  Comments  upon    Foreign   Cam 
paigns  —  His  Popularity  with  his  Troops  —  A  Criticism  of 
the  Crimean  War — McClellan  and   Grant  contrasted  — 
Generals  Franklin,  Hancock,  and  Meade  —  Young  Jerome       57 
Bonaparte 

CHAPTER    VI 

General  Stonewall  Jackson  —  His  Remarkable  Character  — 
Married  at  "  Cleveland "  to  the  Eldest  Daughter  of  Mr. 
Wiley  Roy  Mason  —  Anecdotes  of  General  Burnside  —  On 
the  Texas  Frontier  with  the  Rifles  —  The  Life  at  Fort  Inge 

—  Mrs.   Maury's  Journey  to   the   Post  —  Promoted   and 
transferred  —  Sent  Home  on  Sick  Leave  .         .         .  71 

CHAPTER   VII 

Philadelphia  Hospitality  —  The  Wreck  of  the  Steamship  San 
Francisco  —  An  Expedition  to  New  Mexico  under  General 
Persifer  Smith  —  Incidents  of  the  March — The  Beauty  of 
the  Wild  Rose  Pass  —  Hunting  Adventures  —  Peculiari 
ties  of  the  Game  of  the  Country  —  Encounters  with  the 
Apaches  —  Odd  Characters  —  Arrival  at  Laredo  .  .  83 

CHAPTER   VIII 

Big  Game  Hunting  in  Texas  —  Encounter  with  an  American 
Lion  —  Exciting  Fight  with  a  Wild  Bull  —  Pierced  with 
Cactus  Spikes  —  Fierce  Battle  with  a  Wounded  Cow  —  On 
Recruiting  Service  at  Carlisle  Barracks  —  New  Tactics  for 
Mounted  Rifles  —  The  May  Family  —  Sad  Results  of  a 
Duel 95 


CONTENTS  IX 


CHAPTER   IX 

PAGE 

Across  the  Plains  from  Kansas  to  New  Mexico  —  Incidents  of 
the  Long  Journey  —  A  Paradise  for  the  Hunter  of  Ante 
lope  and  Buffalo  —  A  Buffalo  Hunt  ending  in  a  Tragedy  — 
Skirmishes  with  Hostile  Indians  —  A  Surprise  and  Defeat 
for  the  Comanches  —  The  Record  of  the  Rifles  .  .108 

CHAPTER  X 

A  Story  of  Indian  Barbarity  —  "  Red  Jackson's  "  Fight  with  a 
Grizzly  —  Wolf- Hunting  with  Greyhounds  —  Exploits  of 
'Possum  and  Toots  —  Capturing  a  Grizzly's  Cubs  —  Trans 
ferred  to  Santa  Fe  —  Anxiety  over  the  Tension  between 
the  North  and  the  South  —  How  the  News  of  the  Fall  of 
Sumter  was  received .121 

CHAPTER  XI 

An  Expedition  against  the  Navajoes  —  The  Modoc  Chief,  Cap 
tain  Jack  —  The  Journey  Home  from  New  Mexico  at  the 
Outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  —  The  Feeling  among  Army 
Men  —  "  Stricken  from  the  Rolls  "  —  Experiences  in  Leav- 
enworth,  Topeka,  and  on  the  March  —  General  George  H. 
Thomas 131 

CHAPTER  XII 

Arrival  in  Richmond  —  On  the  Battle-field  at  Manassas  —  Em 
barrassing  Interview  with  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston  — 
His  Protest  against  being  superseded  by  General  Lee  — 
His  Removal  from  the  Command  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee 
—  Anecdotes  of  Johnston  —  His  Personal  Traits  and  Fam 
ily  Life  —  His  Opinions  of  Napoleon,  Marlborough,  For 
rest,  and  Others 143 

CHAPTER  XIII 

In  the  Trans- Mississippi  Campaign  under  Van  Dorn  —  A  Vir 
ginian's  Hospitality  —  Incidents  of  the  Retreat  from  Cor 
inth,  after  Shiloh  —  The  Adventures  of  Jem,  the  Colored 
Boy,  a  Type  of  the  Loyal  Servant  —  His  Encounter  with 
General  Price  —  A  Quaint  and  Humorous  Character  .  156 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  XIV 

PAGE 

Promoted  to  Brigadier-General  —  An  Interrupted  Christmas 
Dinner  —  Captain  Bledsoe  —  Incidents  of  Van  Dorn's 
Campaign  in  Mississippi  —  Ross'  Brigade  of  Undisciplined 
Texans  —  Measures  for  the  Defence  of  Vicksburg  —  Oper 
ations  of  Porter  and  Sherman  —  Repelling  General  Quinby  166 

CHAPTER   XV 

Mysterious  Disappearance  of  Young  John  Herndon  Maury  — 
Grant  and  Porter  aid  in  the  Search  for  him  —  Conjectures 
and  Theories  regarding  his  Fate  —  A  Christening  under 
Fire  —  Anecdotes  of  Dr.  Lord — A  Magnificent  Spectacle 
when  Porter  ran  the  Vicksburg  Batteries  —  An  Interrupted 
Ball 179 

CHAPTER  XVI 

Transferred  to  the  Command  of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf, 
at  Mobile — Experiences  with  "  Galvanized  Yankees"  — 
How  a  Spy  was  trapped  —  Colonel  Henry  Maury's  Adven 
turous  Career  —  His  Coolness  and  Bravery  in  Peril  —  A 
Duel  —  Tried  by  Court-Martial  and  Acquitted  —  Anecdotes 
of  Bishop  Wilmer  of  Alabama  .  «  ,  .  .  .  .  190 

CHAPTER  XVII 

Recollections  of  General  Forrest  —  His  Personal  Appearance 
and  Traits  —  His  Characteristics  as  a  Commander  —  Never 
surprised  or  attacked  —  Ignorant  of  Tactics,  but  Great  in 
Strategy  —  Instances  of  his  Aggressive  Self-Reliance,  his 
Rapidity  of  Movement,  and  his  Personal  Power  over  his 
Men  —  The  Fort  Pillow  Episode  ...  .  204 

CHAPTER  XVIII 

Forrest's  Criticism  of  the  Battle  of  Chickamauga  —  He  retires 
to  his  Plantation  after  the  War,  broken  in  Health,  Fortune, 
and  Spirit  —  Pronounced  the  Greatest  Soldier  of  this  Gen- 


CONTENTS  XI 


PAGE 

eration  —  Anecdotes  of  General  Dick  Taylor  —  His  Ability 
as  a  Soldier  and  his  Wit  as  a  Talker  —  His  Opinion  of 
West  Point 219 

CHAPTER  XIX 

Last  Day  of  Service  for  the  Confederacy  —  Beginning  the 
Journey  Home  —  Hospitalities  on  the  Way  —  Condition 
of  the  South  after  the  War  —  Arrival  at  Richmond  —  Gen 
eral  Lee's  Opinion  of  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  —  His  Man 
ner  of  administering  a  Rebuke  —  Other  Aspects  of  his 
Character  illustrated  —  Death  of  Mr.  Mason  .  .  .231 

CHAPTER  XX 

The  Classical  and  Mathematical  Academy  of  Fredericksburg 
established  —  Accepts  a  Business  Offer  in  New  Orleans  — 
Engages  in  the  Manufacture  of  Resin  and  Turpentine  — 
Disastrous  Results  of  this  Enterprise  —  Preventing  a  Duel 
—  Preservation  of  Southern  War  Records  —  Organization 
of  the  National  Guard  —  Recollections  of  Senator  M.  C. 
Butler 242 

CHAPTER  XXI 

Appointed  Minister  to  the  United  States  of  Colombia  —  Pan 
ama  and  its  Scenery  —  An  Event  in  the  History  of  Carta 
gena  —  The  Journey  up  the  Magdalena  River  —  Alligator 
Shooting  —  By  Mules  from  Honda  to  Bogota  —  The  Coun 
try  and  its  People  and  Agricultural  Resources  —  The  Cattle 
and  Horses  .  258 

CHAPTER  XXII 

The  City  of  Bogota  — The  Clergy,  the  Military,  and  the  People 
— Trade  Relations  with  the  United  States  —  Social  Life  in 
Town  and  Country  —  Duck  Shooting  —  Mineral  Wealth 
of  the  Country  —  An  Exciting  Dog-Cart  Drive  down  the 
Andes  —  General  Henry  Morgan  —  Return  to  the  United 
States 269 


CHAPTER   I 

Fredericksburg,  its  People  and  its  History  —  Traditions  of  George 
Washington  and  of  the  Lees — Anecdotes  of  Other  Famous  Men, 
and  Quaint  Characters  of  the  Town  —  Country  Homes  of  the  Gentry 
—  General  Lafayette's  Visit  —  The  Maury  Family  —  Social  Life  be 
fore  the  War— The  Generous  Hospitality  of  the  Old  Days 

.REDERICKSBURG,  Virginia,  is  one  of  the 
historic  towns  of  America.  Founded  long 
before  the  Revolution,  upon  the  Rappahan- 
nock  River,  at  the  head  of  tide-water,  it 
commanded  for  many  years  the  trade  of  the  opulent  plant 
ers  of  all  that  fertile  region  lying  along  the  Potomac  and 
Rappahannock  rivers  from  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains  to 
the  Chesapeake  Bay.  The  town  was  the  centre  of  the 
commercial  and  social  life  of  that  rich  region  known  as 
the  Northern  Neck  of  Virginia  and  the  Piedmont  country, 
where  were  born  and  bred  the  great  Fathers  of  American 
liberty.  In  my  boyhood  there  were  many  there  who  had 
walked  and  talked  with  John  Marshall,  George  Washing 
ton,  George  Mason,  Thomas  Jefferson,  James  Madison, 
James  Monroe,  and  the  Lees. 

For  more  than  a  century  prior  to  the  Revolution,  the 
sturdy  people  of  that  region  were  often  engaged  in  active 
war  with  the  great  Indian  nation  once  ruled  by  King 
Powhatan.  In  the  rebellion  of  Nathaniel  Bacon  against 
Sir  William  Berkeley  two  centuries  ago,  several  thousand 
horsemen  marched  under  his  command  to  assert  those 
principles  of  popular  rights  which  were  proclaimed  and 


RECOLLECTIONS 


established  in  1776.  Many  of  these  soldiers  were  from 
Fredericksburg  and  its  vicinity,  and  it  was  inevitable  that 
the  descendants  of  these  men  should  be  the  very  first  to 
arm  against  the  encroachments  of  the  British  crown,  and 
it  was  in  Fredericksburg  that  a  convention  of  delegates  of 
twelve  companies  of  horse  assembled  and,  proclaiming 
their  purpose  to  defend  the  colony  of  Virginia,  or  any 
other  colony,  against  the  king  of  England,  marched, 
under  the  command  of  Patrick  Henry,  against  Lord 
Dunmore  in  his  capital.  This  occurred  twenty-one  days 
before  the  famous  Declaration  of  Mecklenburg,  and  was 
therefore  the  first  and  most  emphatic  declaration  of  our 
independence.  In  1782,  when  that  independence  had 
been  accomplished,  it  was  a  citizen  of  Fredericksburg 
who  introduced  into  the  Legislature,  which  had  then 
replaced  the  House  of  Burgesses,  the  first  resolution  for 
the  emancipation  of  the  negroes,  and  for  the  prohibition 
of  the  slave  trade,  ever  offered  in  America.  General 
John  Minor,  who  had  fought  throughout  the  war,  was  the 
author  and  advocate  of  the  measure. 

George  Washington  had  his  boyhood's  home  in  Fred 
ericksburg,  and  after  his  public  career  ended  he  used  to 
go  there  to  visit  his  venerable  mother.  His  arrival  was 
the  occasion  of  great  conviviality  and  rejoicing.  Din 
ner  parties  and  card  parties  were  then  in  order,  and  we 
find,  in  that  wonderful  record  of  his  daily  receipts  and 
expenditures,  that  on  one  of  these  occasions  he  won 
thirty  guineas  at  loo.  Probably  it  was  after  this  night 
that  he  threw  the  historic  dollar  across  the  river,  the  only 
instance  of  extravagance  ever  charged  against  him.  A 
dinner  party  was  usually  given  to  him  on  his  arrival  at 
the  old  Indian  Queen  Tavern,  where,  tradition  tells  us, 
drink  was  deep  and  play  was  high. 

It  is  generally  believed  that  Washington  did  not  laugh 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN 


or  enjoy  a  joke.  I  have  often  heard  Judge  Francis  Talia- 
ferro  Brooke,  for  many  years  Chief  Justice  of  Virginia,  say 
this  was  not  true.  Washington  often  dined  at  Smithfield, 
the  home  of  the  Brooke  family.  It  is  now  known  in  the 
histories  of  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  as  the  "  Pratt 
House."  Judge  Brooke  used  to  tell  of  a  dinner  given  to 
Washington  at  the  Indian  Queen  Tavern,  at  which  he  was 
present.  A  British  officer  sang  a  comic  song,  —  a  very 
improper  song,  but  as  funny  as  it  was  improper,  —  at 
which  Washington  laughed  till  the  tears  ran  down  his 
cheeks,  and  called  upon  the  singer  to  repeat  it. 

The  Lees  frequented  Fredericksburg,  and  Light  Horse 
Harry  was  once  in  prison  bounds  there  for  debt.  It  is 
related  that  from  the  jail  of  that  town  he  wrote  to  his 
old  friend  Robert  Morris  about  his  sad  case,  and  asked 
him  to  accommodate  him  with  a  loan.  The  great  finan 
cier  replied  that  he  was  "  very  sorry  he  could  not  oblige 
him,  because  he,  too,  was  in  the  same  condition  "  !  Our 
greater  Lee,  Robert  Edward,  used  to  make  his  summer 
home  at  Chatham,  that  old,  colonial  house  just  opposite 
Fredericksburg,  then  the  residence  of  Fitzhugh.  Strat 
ford,  where  Lee  was  born,  lies  on  the  Potomac,  near 
Wakefield,  the  birthplace  of  Washington.  Mrs.  Lee 
found  the  place  too  unhealthy  for  summer  residence, 
and  moved,  with  her  children,  up  to  the  purer  air  of 
Chatham.  The  estate  of  Chatham  adjoined  the  land 
of  Mrs.  Washington,  where  her  son  George  broke  the 
colt  and  barked  the  cherry  tree. 

Early  in  this  century,  General  John  Minor  lived  in 
the  fine  old  house  of  Hazel  Hill.  He  was  one  of  the 
leading  gentlemen  of  his  day,  and  was  remarkable  for  his 
benevolence  and  generosity.  William  Wirt  paid  high 
and  eloquent  tribute  to  General  Minor's  consideration 
for  the  young  lawyers  who  were  struggling  up  in  the 


RECOLLECTIONS 


profession.  His  negro  butler  was  named  Josephus,  and 
was  commonly  called  Joe.  Joe  had  a  son  whom  he 
named  "  Jimsephus."  General  Minor  manumitted  him, 
after  he  had  been  educated  and  had  been  taught  the 
trade  of  printer,  and  he  was  sent  to  Liberia,  where  for 
many  years  Mr.  James  Sephas  was  the  able  editor  of  the 
Liberia  Herald. 

In  the  fierce  struggle  between  the  Federal  and  States- 
rights  parties  General  Minor  ran  for  Congress  against 
James  Monroe,  then  a  resident  of  the  town.  Monroe 
beat  him,  but  it  made  no  difference  in  the  personal  rela 
tions  of  these  high  gentlemen.  General  Minor  named 
a  son  after  James  Monroe,  and  Dr.  James  Monroe  Minor 
entered  the  Navy  as  a  surgeon.  He  married  into  the 
Pierrepont  family  of  New  York,  where  he  became  eminent 
in  his  profession. 

On  one  occasion,  the  general  went  into  a  shoe  store, 
and  found  a  bright-looking  country  girl  in  sharp  con 
troversy  with  the  merchant  over  a  pair  of  shoes.  Pleased 
with  the  girl's  intelligence,  he  purchased  the  shoes  and 
gave  them  to  her.  On  the  next  Valentine's  Day  he 
received  this :  — 

"  If  these  few  lines  you  do  accept, 
A  pair  of  shoes  I  shall  expect. 
If  these  few  lines  you  do  refuse, 
I  shall  expect  a  pair  of  shoes." 

She  got  the  shoes.  The  distinguished  law  teacher  of 
the  University  of  Virginia,  Professor  John  Minor,  is  the 
general's  nephew  and  namesake. 

Many  of  our  people  advocated  negro  emancipation 
and  colonization.  My  grandfather,  Mr.  Fontaine  Maury, 
manumitted  his  slaves,  and  had  one  of  them,  a  bright 
young  fellow,  educated  for  the  law.  He  was  sent  to 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN 


Liberia,  where  he  became  the  highly  respected  Judge 
Draper, 'of  Monrovia.  President  Monroe,  then  a  lawyer 
in  Fredericksburg,  was  the  great  advocate  of  the  emanci 
pation  and  colonization  of  the  negro.  The  capital  of 
Liberia  was  named  in  his  honor,  Monrovia.  Henry  Clay, 
from  the  neighboring  county  of  Hanover,  was  also  the 
champion  of  emancipation,  and  president  of  the  coloniza 
tion  society. 

Commodore  Matthew  Fontaine  Maury  also  made  his 
home  in  Fredericksburg,  where  he  married  the  sister  of 
Captain  William  Lewis  Herndon,  that  captain  who  com 
manded  the  Central  America  on  her  last,  ill-fated  voyage, 
and  who,  after  he  had  placed  all  the  women  and  children 
and  as  many  as  possible  of  the  men  passengers  safely  in 
the  boats,  refused,  himself,  to  follow,  because  he  would 
not  desert  his  sinking  ship.  Dressing  himself  in  his  full 
uniform,  he  took  his  place  upon  the  bridge,  and  as  the 
vessel  sank  into  the  waves,  her  captain  passed,  with 
bowed  and  uncovered  head,  into  the  presence  of  his 
Maker. 

It  was  many  years  prior  to  this  that  some  good  ladies 
of  the  town  discovered  a  boy  of  about  ten  years  in  the  act 
of  climbing  the  lightning-rod  of  old  Saint  George's  steeple 
to  the  cross  above  it.  They  publicly  prophesied  that 
the  boy  would  never  come  to  any  good,  and  doubtless 
remembered  him  in  their  prayers ;  and  these  prevailed, 
for,  long  afterward,  our  country  was  deeply  moved  by 
the  thrilling  story  of  the  Darien  expedition,  —  of  how  it 
wandered,  lost  in  the  forests  of  Panama,  many  perishing, 
and  of  how  the  survivors  owed  their  safety  to  this  same 
hero,  whose  courage  and  self-devotion  made  the  name 
of  Jack  Maury  loved  and  honored  forever. 

The  Honorable  Samuel  Southard,  once  Secretary  of 
the  Navy,  married  and  lived  for  a  time  in  Fredericks- 


6  RECOLLECTIONS 


burg.  To  his  kindness  many  of  our  boys  owed  their 
commissions  in  the  Navy.  A  nephew  of  his  by  mar 
riage  was  Jim  Harrow,  noted  for  his  pugnacity.  Jim 
was  a  member  of  the  company  which  marched,  in  the 
beginning  of  the  war,  to  defend  Acquia  Creek  against 
the  United  States  steamer  Pawnee.  Whenever  the 
Pawnee  would  fire  a  shot,  Jim  Harrow  would  jump 
upon  the  parapet,  and  flap  his  arms  and  crow  like  a 
chicken  cock.  He  also  showed  his  contempt  for  the 
enemy  by  going  beyond  the  works,  and  finally  took  his 
stand  by  a  persimmon  tree  outside.  A  shot  from  the 
Pawnee  struck  the  tree  and  cut  it  down,  and  Jim  Harrow 
disappeared  from  view,  enveloped  in  the  smoke  and 
dust  and  debris  of  the  explosion.  An  old  cannoneer 
exclaimed,  "Thank  God,  that  infernal  fool  is  dead  at 
last !  "  The  words  were  scarcely  uttered  when  there  was 
a  movement  among  the  branches  of  the  tree,  and  Jim 
Harrow  emerged,  rolling  up  his  sleeves,  and  calling  upon 
the  man  who  had  "  thanked  God  he  was  dead  "  to  come 
out,  that  he  might  lick  him.  Three  years  later,  Jim's 
fights  were  ended  by  a  Confederate  deserter  whom  he 
attempted  to  arrest. 

Mrs.  Little,  a  lady  of  high  culture  and  excellence, 
presided  over  the  Academy  to  which  the  best  people  of 
the  town  and  neighboring  counties  sent  their  daughters 
for  education.  An  old  planter  of  the  Northern  Neck 
took  his  darling  daughter  there.  One  of  Mrs.  Little's 
scholars  was  a  Miss  Richardetta  H.,  whose  name  in  the 
school  was  inevitably  abbreviated  to  "  Dick."  The  new 
comer  was  enraptured  with  all  her  surroundings,  and 
wrote  home  eloquently  about  the  charms  of  her  room 
mate,  Dick  H.  Her  father  was  astounded.  He  had 
heard  much  of  the  high  character  of  Mrs.  Little's  school. 
He  had  also  a  fearful  apprehension  of  the  snares  which 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN 


might  be  set  for  a  young  creature  just  from  the  seclusion 
of  her  country  home,  thrown  at  once  into  the  fashionable 
vortex  of  the  city  of  -Fredericksburg.  So  he  ordered  out 
his  carriage,  and  posted  up  to  town,  to  take  prompt 
measures  about  this  business.  He  found  Dick  H.  a 
gentle,  refined  girl,  worthy  of  her  distinguished  family. 
She  still  lives,  and  is  the  wife  of  a  prominent  ex-general 
of  the  Confederacy. 

Colonel  Byrd  Willis  was  one  of  the  famous  characters 
of  his  day.  Connected  with  the  most  influential  families 
of  the  State,  he  was  the  noted  wit  and  raconteur  of  that 
old  town.  Weighing  over  three  hundred  pounds,  he 
might  have  played  Falstaff  without  the  padding,  and  in 
his  geniality  and  kindness  equalled  Shakespeare's  master 
piece.  The  charming  Princess  Achille  Murat  was  his 
daughter.  She  was  an  ornament  of  the  court  of  the  third 
Emperor,  and  was  always  the  invited  guest  of  the  fash 
ionable  watering-places  of  Virginia.  After  breaking  up 
his  home  in  Florida,  Colonel  Willis  returned  to  end  his 
days  in  Fredericksburg.  He  paid  liberally  for  his  board 
to  his  landlady,  a  decayed  gentlewoman  and  kinswoman, 
of  great  piety,  but  ate  his  meals  at  the  best  restaurant ; 
for  he  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  the  table,  and  old  Mrs. 
Carter's  poverty  and  unthrift  were  great.  He  used  to 
tell,  how,  one  day,  all  of  her  resources  being  exhausted, 
the  old  lady  took  to  her  bed,  saying  to  her  housekeeper, 
"  Nancy,  there's  nothing  in  the  house  but  mush  for  dinner. 
Give  that  to  my  boarders.  If  they  are  Christians,  they 
will  eat  it  and  be  thankful ;  if  they  are  not  Christians, 
it  is  much  better  than  they  deserve." 

About  1795  Robert  Brooke,  governor  of  Virginia,  built 
his  home  upon  Federal  Hill,  which  looks  over  Sandy 
Bottom  to  Marye's  Heights,  a  thousand  yards  away. 
Early  in  this  century,  Governor  Brooke  being  dead,  Fed- 


8  RECOLLECTIONS 


eral  Hill  became  the  property  of  the  family  of  Cobb, 
since  of  Georgia.  Governor  Cobb,  of  Georgia,  and  his 
brother,  General  Sylvanus  Cobb,  lived  there  as  boys.  In 
the  great  battle  a  Federal  battery  was  placed  on  the  lawn 
of  Federal  Hill.  General  Sylvanus  Cobb,  for  the  first 
time  since  his  boyhood,  looked  again  upon  his  old  home 
from  the  stone  wall  at  the  foot  of  Marye's  Heights.  It 
was  the  last  time  he  ever  saw  it,  for  a  cannon-ball  from 
that  battery  tore  him  to  pieces. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Reuben  Thorn  was  the  postmaster 
of  the  town.  He  was  also  senior  warden  of  Saint  George's 
Church.  Scarcely  five  feet  in  stature,  he  was  of  heroic 
nature.  Once  when  the  Episcopal  Convention  was  assem 
bled  in  Saint  George's,  a  dangerous  crack  was  discovered 
in  the  gallery  of  the  church,  and  great  apprehension 
prevailed  as  to  the  safety  of  the  building.  The  senior 
warden  indignantly  derided  these  fears,  and,  when  the 
convention  opened,  the  amazed  congregation  saw  their 
warden  seated  in  the  gallery,  his  arms  folded,  and  his 
back  propping  the  dangerous  crack. 

He  was  a  man  of  strictest  integrity  and  absolute  sobri 
ety,  and  was  never  known  to  take  a  drop  of  strong  drink ; 
but  his  ruddy  face  was  adorned  by  a  prominent  nose  of 
flaming  and  suspicious  redness.  One  day,  while  admon 
ishing  the  mail-carrier  of  King  George  County  because 
of  his  tippling  propensities,  he  was  silenced  by  being 
requested  to  look  at  his  own  nose  before  he  ventured  to 
talk  to  other  people  about  drinking. 

During  the  bombardment  of  the  town,  the  old  man, 
then  an  octogenarian,  had  his  arm-chair  moved  out  into 
the  garden,  the  nearest  place  to  the  cannon  of  the  enemy, 
and  there  he  sat  throughout  the  day,  encouraging  by  word 
and  example  the  terrified  people  of  his  flock. 

It  was  in  1826  that  General  Lafayette  visited  our  town, 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN 


and  was  received  and  entertained  with  great  enthusiasm 
as  he  passed  on  his  way  to  Yorktown.  The  Fredericks- 
burg  Guards  escorted  him  to  his  destination.1  One  of 
my  earliest  recollections  is  of  a  pair  of  white  morocco 
shoes  with  a  portrait  of  General  Lafayette  on  the  instep. 
This  country  owes  more  to  that  truly  noble  Frenchman 
than  we  ever  think  of  now,  and  France  always  found  him, 
in  every  crisis,  a  brave  and  faithful  patriot. 

While  General  Lafayette  was  in  Fredericksburg,  one  of 
his  old  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  came  to  town  to  pay  his 
respects  to  his  former  commander.  He  had  a  profound 
conviction  of  the  activity  and  prevalence  of  pickpockets, 
and  from  the  time  he  entered  the  streets  of  the  city  kept 
his  hand  upon  his  watch.  Finally  he  succeeded,  after 
passing  through  the  crowd,  in  reaching  his  general.  In 
his  enthusiasm  at  being  greeted  so  warmly  by  the  great 
marquis,  he  seized,  with  both  hands,  Lafayette's  friendly 
grasp,  and  as  he  turned  away  clapped  his  hand  again 
upon  his  watch  pocket,  but,  alas,  it  was  empty. 

Later  on  I  have  seen  John  Randolph's  coach  with  four 
thoroughbreds,  and  John  and  Jubah  in  attendance,  draw 
up  at  the  Farmers'  Hotel ;  and  in  the  summer  season  ten 
coaches  at  once  would  drive  from  that  old  tavern  to  the 
White  Sulphur.  It  was  said  that  one  team  of  thorough 
bred  sorrels  made  Chancellor's  Tavern,  ten  miles  away,  in 
one  hour. 

Six  miles  below  Fredericksburg  on  Massaponox  Creek 
was  New  Post,  the  home  of  General  Alexander  Spotts- 
wood.  Great  intimacy  was  cherished  between  the  fami 
lies  of  Brooke  of  Smithfield  and  Spottswood.  Young 

1  Colonel  Charles  Pollard,  the  great  railroad  benefactor  of  Alabama, 
and  most  distinguished  of  all  her  great  citizens  for  his  munificent,  pure, 
and  exalted  life,  was  a  lieutenant  of  the  escort  of  General  Lafayette  on 
his  famous  excursion  to  Yorktown. 


10  RECOLLECTIONS 

Francis  Taliaferro  Brooke  married  a  daughter  of  General 
Spottswood,  and  their  home  at  Saint  Julian,  just  a  mile 
away,  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  charming  in 
the  State. 

Saint  Julian,  as  I  remember  it,  was  one  of  the  most 
delightful  of  the  many  country  homes  of  that  fair  region. 
It  was  seven  miles  below  Fredericksburg,  on  the  right  of 
the  main  stage  road  to  Richmond,  situated  in  a  lovely  val 
ley  embowered  in  fine  old  shade  trees,  and  surrounded 
by  acres  of  choice  fruits  and  flowers.  The  vegetable 
garden  was  closely  guarded  by  a  cedar  hedge  which  a  cat 
could  hardly  penetrate,  while  away  to  the  left  stretched  a 
meadow  bordered  by  a  clear  running  brook,  a  tributary  of 
the  Massaponox,  along  which  my  brother  and  I,  escorted 
by  old  John,  the  carriage  driver,  used  to  hunt,  with  old 
Orion,  a  black  and  white  pointer,  to  help  us.  A  genera 
tion  later  Jackson's  infantry  and  Pelham's  guns  thun 
dered  along  that  stream  until  its  waters  ran  red  with 
human  blood. 

Here  my  uncle,  Frank  Brooke,  made  his  home  for  many 
years,  and  my  brother  and  I  were  ever  most  welcome 
guests.  Aunt  Brooke  was  a  Miss  Mary  Carter,  a  beauty 
of  Blenheim,  in  Albemarle  County,  and  was  the  most 
exquisite  of  Virginia  hostesses.  Rarely  have  I  enjoyed  a 
table  so  dainty  as  hers,  with  its  old  blue  India  china,  and 
handsome  silver  and  napery.  Every  dish  had  been  the 
especial  care  of  old  Phyllis,  the  best  cook  on  the  Rappa- 
hannock.  The  walls  of  the  parlor  were  covered  by 
old-fashioned  landscape  paper,  depicting  the  adventures 
and  death  of  Captain  Cook.  Over  the  mantel  hung  a 
portrait  of  my  great-grandfather,  Mr.  Richard  Brooke, 
in  his  scarlet  coat,  buff  waistcoat,  and  lace  ruffles,  and 
over  the  door  the  portrait  of  the  beautiful  Miss  Fannie 
Carter,  a  famous  belle  of  her  day,  who  married  Rosier 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  11 


Dulany,  kinsman  of  the  Colonel  Dick  Dulany,  so  well 
known  and  loved  in  Virginia,  and  so  distinguished  in  the 
army  of  northern  Virginia  for  his  lofty  bearing,  gentle 
nature,  and  daring  courage. 

But  the  charm  of  Saint  Julian  was  our  cousin  Helen. 
Lovely  in  person  and  in  character,  she  was  the  belle  of  the 
county,  and  of  Richmond  too.  She  was  a  little  older 
than  I,  and  her  refined,  high-bred  nature  made  her  my 
divinity,  and  she  knew  it  too.  Aunt  Brooke  had  a  niece, 
Mary  Francis  Thompson,  whom  she  adopted  as  a  chosen 
companion  for  Helen.  She  was  a  sweet,  gentle  girl,  and 
my  brother  and  she  were  sweethearts,  and  when  last  at 
Saint  Julian  on  a  furlough  from  the  army,  I  saw  on  the 
bark  of  an  aspen  tree  the  big  heart  carved  by  my  brother, 
with  her  initials  and  his  own  within  it.  They  had  both 
been  dead  many  years  then.  When  the  enemy  came  to 
Saint  Julian  the  old  family  portraits  were  all  carried 
to  Fredericksburg,  and  stored  in  the  post-office  in  the* 
care  of  Mr.  Reuben  Thorn.  In  the  bombardment  of  the 
town  they  were  destroyed. 

They  were  a  very  happy  and  united  family,  those 
Brookes  of  Saint  Julian.  In  his  youth  Uncle  Frank  used 
to  hunt  foxes  with  General  Spottswood,  and  it  was  after 
he  came  home  from  the  Revolutionary  War,  where  he 
had  served  on  General  Greene's  staff,  that  he  married 
Mary  Spottswood.  He  had  been  her  neighbor  and  lover 
all  his  boyhood.  After  her  death,  he  married  Mary  Car 
ter.  He  became  a  great  lawyer,  and  was  for  more  than 
forty  years  on  the  Supreme  Bench,  —  the  Court  of 
Appeals  of  Virginia.  Henry  Clay  read  law  in  his  office, 
and  on  his  way  to  Congress  used  to  stop  at  Saint  Julian. 
Judge  Brooke  lived  to  be  more  than  eighty  years  of  age. 
He  lies  by  his  wife  in  the  little  graveyard  on  the  hill  above 
their  home.  The  family  are  all  scattered  now  or  dead, 


12  fcECOLLECTIONS 


and  the  dear  old  place  has  passed  into  other  hands.  It 
has  become  the  property  of  Mr.  Boulware,  a  very  well- 
known  and  respected  Virginian.  It  is  a  comfort  to  me 
that  gentle  people  are  there,  for  it  is  the  dearest  place  in 
all  my  boyhood's  memories. 

Johnson  Barbour,  son  of  our  distinguished  governor, 
was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  youths  of  his  day,  as  he  has 
been  for  many  years  the  highest  illustration  of  our  cul 
tured  country  gentleman.  When  about  sixteen  years  of 
age  he  was  a  visitor  in  our  home  in  Fredericksburg.  He 
had  been  to  England  with  his  father  when  he  was  our 
Minister  to  the  Court  of  St.  James,  and  the  versatility  and 
readiness  of  his  talk  made  a  great  impression  upon  all  of 
us,  especially  upon  myself,  who  felt  his  superiority  to  any 
boy  I  had  ever  seen.  We  were  bedfellows  during  his 
visit,  and  one  night  I,  wakeful  and  much  impressed  by 
Johnson's  cleverness  during  the  evening,  requested  him 
to  examine  me  on  matters  of  general  information.  He 
complied,  and  sleepily  inquired  how  many  children  Queen 
Elizabeth  had.  I  gave  it  up,  and  the  catechism  ended, 
for  Johnson  rolled  over  and  went  to  sleep. 

I  have  recorded  these  personal  anecdotes  to  illustrate 
the  character  of  the  community  in  which  our  people  were 
reared.  It  was  a  blessed  and  happy  land  in  my  boyhood 
and  youth.  All  of  the  rich  bottom  lands  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock  were  occupied  by  prosperous  planters,  whose 
ample  estates,  with  their  spacious  residences,  had  de 
scended  for  generations  from  father  to  son.  Many  of 
these  were  granted  by  the  Crown  of  England,  but  very 
few  are  now  held  under  the  original  grants.  The  repeal 
of  the  law  of  entail,  brought  about  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  was 
so  recent,  that  in  some  families  the  homes  were  inherited 
by  the  sons,  while  the  daughters  were  otherwise  provided 
for.  These  homes  were  then  the  abode  of  very  great 


OF  A   VIRGINIAN  13 


comfort  and  dignity ;  a  generous  and  elegant  hospitality 
was  universal.  The  house  servants  were  long  and  care 
fully  trained  in  their  respective  duties,  and  oftentimes 
remained  for  generations  in  the  same  families.  My  chil 
dren's  nurse,  "  Mammy  Lucy,"  and  her  progenitors,  had 
been  in  the  family  of  my  father-in-law  for  five  genera 
tions,  and  remained  till  the  Emancipation  Proclamation. 
The  usual  retinue  of  the  establishment  at  "  Cleveland,"  my 
wife's  home,  was  fifteen  servants,  or  more  when  the  house 
was  full  of  company;  and  as  many  as  thirty  or  more 
of  the  family  and  friends  daily  dined  there  together  for 
weeks  and  months  at  a  time. 

In  Fredericksburg  and  its  near  vicinity  lived  many 
Scotch  families.  Every  historic  name  of  Scotland  is 
represented  among  them,  and  a  more  worthy  class  of 
people  can  nowhere  be  found.  Their  ancestors  came 
over  in  colonial  days,  and,  curiously  enough,  became 
Episcopalians,  as  were  all  the  population  of  that  region 
in  those  days.  The  history  and  traditions  of  the  people 
made  them  proud,  and  the  religious  and  literary  influences 
were  of  a  high  order.  The  old  College  of  William  and 
Mary  was  the  Alma  Mater  of  these  colonial  gentry,  while 
the  classical  academies  of  Hanson,  and  Lawrence,  and 
the  Colernans  prepared  our  youth  for  their  higher  educa 
tion  there.  Following  the  English  system,  the  study  of 
the  classics  was  the  chief  aim  of  these  schools.  Modern 
languages  were  not  taught  in  them,  nor  mathematics  to 
any  valuable  extent. 


CHAPTER   II 

Captain  John  Minor  Maury's  Active  and  Adventurous  Life — Personal 
Traits  of  Matthew  Fontaine  Maury — His  Character  and  his  Scien 
tific  Achievements  —  At  the  University  of  Virginia  —  Shakespeare 
Caldwell's  Career  — A  Cadet  at  West  Point  —  Incidents  of  the  Life 
there — Anecdotes  of  Grant,  McClellan,  Jackson,  and  Others 

'N  1824,  my  father,  Captain  John  Minor  Maury, 
while  serving  as  flag  captain  of  Commodore 
David  Porter's  fleet  against  the  pirates  of  the 
West  Indies,  died  in  the  twenty-eighth  year 
of  his  age.  He  had  been  an  officer  of  the  Navy  since 
his  thirteenth  year,  and  had  led  a  most  active  and  ad 
venturous  life;  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the 
highest  ranking  officer  of  his  age  in  the  service.  Some 
years  previously  he  sailed  with  Captain  William  Lewis 
as  first  officer  of  a  ship  bound  for  China.  They  had 
both  obtained  furloughs  for  this  voyage.  Maury,  with 
six  men,  was  left  on  the  island  of  Nokaheeva  to  collect 
sandal-wood  and  other  valuable  articles  of  trade  against 
the  return  of  the  ship. 

The  war  with  England  broke  out,  and  Captain  Lewis 
was  blockaded  in  a  Chinese  port.  Maury  and  his  men 
were  beset  by  the  natives  of  one  part  of  the  island, 
though  befriended  by  the  chief  of  that  portion  where 
ships  were  accustomed  to  land,  and  at  last  all  of  the 
party  save  Maury  and  a  sailor  named  Baker  were  killed 
by  the  savages.  These  two  constructed  a  place  of  refuge 
in  the  tops  of  four  cocoanut  trees  which  grew  close 

14 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A   VIRGINIAN  15 

enough  together  for  them  to  make  a  room  as  large  as  a 
frigate's  maintop.  A  rope  ladder  was  their  means  of 
access.  Here  they  were  one  day,  when  their  eyes  were 
brightened  by  the  sight  of  a  frigate  bearing  the  Ameri 
can  flag.  It  proved  to  be  the  Essex,  Captain  David 
Porter  commanding,  which  had  touched  at  the  island 
for  fresh  water.  Captain  Porter  had  with  him  a  very 
fast  British  ship  which  he  had  just  captured.  He  named 
her  the  Essex  Junior,  and  armed  her  as  his  consort, 
placing  Lieutenant  Downs  in  command,  with  Maury  as 
first  lieutenant.  After  refitting  they  sailed  away  to 
Valparaiso,  where  the  British  ships  Cherub  and  Phoebe, 
under  Captain  Hilliard,  fought  and  captured  them. 

Maury 's  next  service  was  with  McDonough  in  the 
battle  of  Lake  Champlain,  whence  he  wrote  to  a  friend 
in  Fredericksburg :  "We  have  gained  a  glorious  victory. 
I  hope  the  most  important  result  of  it  will  be  to  con 
firm  the  wavering  allegiance  of  New  York  and  Vermont 
to  the  Union.  They  have  been  threatening  to  secede 
unless  peace  be  made  with  England  on  any  terms ! " 
This  was  in  1815. 

About  1822,  Porter  organized  his  fleet  for  the  extinc 
tion  of  the  pirates  of  the  West  Indies.  He  was  allowed 
to  select  his  officers,  and  his  first  choice  was  of  John 
Minor  Maury  to  be  his  flag  captain.  After  serving  with 
distinction  on  that  expedition,  he  died  of  yellow  fever 
on  his  homeward  voyage,  and  was  buried  almost  within 
sight  of  Norfolk  harbor,  where  his  young  wife  and  two 
little  children  were  anxiously  awaiting  his  coming. 

After  my  father's  death  his  younger  brother,  Matthew 
Fontaine  Maury,  became  practically  the  guardian  of 
my  brother,  William  Lewis  Maury,  and  myself.  My 
brother  died  at  the  age  of  twenty,  of  heart  disease,  a 
victim  to  the  barbarous  medical  practice  of  the  day. 


16  RECOLLECTIONS 


He  was  a  very  handsome,  attractive  young  fellow,  and  a 
great  favorite  in  society.  The  doctors  subjected  him 
to  the  "  moxa,"  a  cruel  invention  of  that  time.  A  spot  as 
large  as  a  half  dollar  was  burned  into  the  flesh  over  his 
heart.  He  was  bled  frequently.  It  was  proposed  to 
bleed  him  periodically.  For  several  years  he  ate  no 
meat,  and  for  the  last  year  of  his  life  was  kept  in  bed. 
Our  uncle  protested  vainly  against  this  practice,  which 
he  realized  was  killing  my  brother,  but  the  highest  medi 
cal  authorities  of  the  day  upheld  this  system  of  deple 
tion.  At  last,  after  ever  increasing  torture,  he  was  re 
leased  from  a  life  which  had  dawned  full  of  brightness 
and  promise  for  him,  and  had  become  one  of  continued 
suffering. 

After  my  brother's  death  my  uncle's  interest  centred 
in  me,  and  no  son  ever  had  a  more  tender  and  sympa 
thetic  father  than  I.  As  long  as  he  lived  this  mutual 
confidence  and  affection  existed  unimpaired.  He  was 
the  most  lovable  man  I  ever  knew,  and  he  won  the  con 
fidence  of  all  who  came  within  his  gentle  influence.  He 
ever  used  cordial  praise  and  approbation  as  an  incen 
tive  to  endeavor,  and  if  admonition  were  needed,  he 
gave  it  in  a  manner  which  left  no  sting.  Oftentimes 
a  playful  jest  would  serve  the  purpose  of  his  correction. 
From  my  earliest  boyhood  I  went  to  him  for  counsel  and 
for  comfort  in  all  my  troubles,  and  always  left  him  with 
renewed  purpose  and  self-respect.  When  I  came  to 
him  from  West  Point  he  said  to  me,  "  Well,  Dab,  how 
did  you  come  out?  " 

"Very  poorly,  Uncle  Matt.     I  graduated  thirty-fifth." 

He  looked  sorry  he  had  asked  me,  but  suddenly  tak 
ing  heart  he  inquired,  "How  many  were  in  the  class?  " 

"There  were  sixty  of  us." 

"That  was  first-rate.     You  beat  me   all   hollow.     I 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  17 

was  twenty- seventh,  and  there  were  only  forty  in  my 
class." 

This  was  truly  encouraging.  He  had  a  pleasant 
greeting  for  every  one,  but  was  especially  kindly  in  his 
way  of  treating  the  mechanics  and  workmen  with  whom 
his  business  brought  him  in  contact.  He  made  them 
feel  he  was  learning  from  them,  while  he  never  failed  to 
leave  with  them  something  instructive  about  their  own 
branch  of  work.  He  was  thus  learning  and  teaching  all 
of  his  time. 

In  his  youth  he  read  Scott  and  other  English  classics, 
and  was  very  fond  of  Shakespeare,  and  all  his  life  he 
read  and  studied  the  Bible.  I  do  not  think  he  ever 
read  any  novels  after  he  began  to  develop  the  great 
thoughts  with  which  his  brain  was  teeming.  His  power 
of  concentration  was  wonderful.  Writing  upon  the  sub 
ject  in  which  he  was  interested,  in  the  midst  of  his 
family,  he  would  pause,  pen  in  hand,  to  laugh  at  some 
jest  or  say  a  word  apropos  of  the  question  under  dis 
cussion,  and  return  in  an  instant  to  his  work.  He  wrote 
his  "  Navigation "  and  many  strong  papers  on  Naval 
Reform,  which  first  attracted  attention  to  him,  before  he 
was  thirty  years  old.  Mr.  Calhoun  said  of  him, 
"Maury  is  a  man  of  great  thoughts";  and  Mr.  Tyler 
was  urged  and  desired  to  make  him  Secretary  of  the 
Navy. 

In  1853-54  I  was  spending  the  winter  in  Philadelphia, 
when  he  wrote  to  me  to  go  and  see  Mr.  Biddle,  who 
had  charge  of  the  annual  report  of  the  National  Ob 
servatory,  and  deliver  to  him  a  message  relative  to  it. 
After  our  business  was  ended,  Mr.  Biddle  said  to  me : 
"This  uncle  of  yours  is  a  strange  man.  Here  he  is  pub 
lishing,  as  an  official  report,  the  materials  for  the  most 
valuable  and  interesting  book  of  science  ever  produced. 


18  RECOLLECTIONS 

You  may  tell  him  from  me,  that  if  he  does  not  utilize 
it,  he  will  have  the  chagrin  of  seeing  some  Yankee 
bookmaker  steal  his  thunder  and  reap  a  fortune  from  it." 

I  sat  down  in  Mr.  Biddle's  office  and  wrote  to  him. 
He  replied  by  next  mail  that  he  would  take  Biddle's 
advice,  and  the  "Physical  Geography  of  the  Sea"  was 
soon  published  by  the  Harpers.  It  .created  a  world 
wide  interest,  and  before  the  war  broke  out  eleven 
editions  had  been  issued.  He  used  to  say  to  me, 
"Dab,  that  is  your  book." 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  he  was  at  the  height  of  his 
great  scientific  career,  in  the  most  desirable  position 
possible  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents.  But  he  did  not 
hesitate  a  moment  as  to  his  action,  but  promptly  gave 
up  all  of  his  prospects  in  life  for  his  people's  sake,  and 
calmly  faced  the  uncertainties  and  anxieties  of  a  new 
career.  When  his  decision  became  known,  the  Emperor 
of  Russia,  and  a  little  later  the  Emperor  of  France, 
invited  him  in  the  most  generous  terms  to  come  to  them 
and  pursue  in  tranquillity,  and  in  luxurious  comfort  and 
ease,  those  investigations  which  were  for  the  benefit  of 
all  mankind,  until  peace  should  once  again  enable  him 
to  resume  them  at  home.  He  replied,  gratefully  ac 
knowledging  the  invitations,  but  stating  that  his  pres 
ence  might  be  of  service  to  his  own  people,  and  in  their 
hour  of  need  he  could  not  desert  them. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  I  entered  the  University  of 
Virginia,  and  enjoyed  the  life  of  freedom  from  home 
surveillance,  and  the  great  pleasure  of  association  with 
men  well  reared  and  educated,  matured  in  their  pur 
poses,  and  studying  earnestly  in  the  fine  professional 
schools  which  then,  as  now,  were  recognized  as  among 
the  highest  in  the  country.  Johnson  Barbour,  Randolph 
Tucker,  Robert  Withers,  John  S.  Barbour,  Stage  Davis, 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  19 


Winter  Davis,  Hunter  Murshill,  George  Randolph, 
Confederate  Secretary  of  War,  Honorable  Volney  E. 
Howard,  R.  L.  Dubney,  and  many  another  who  made  his 
mark  in  life  and  has  gone  over  the  river,  were  there  then. 

After  leaving  the  University,  where  I  was  in  the  junior 
law  class,  I  continued  the  pursuit  of  that  most  exacting 
study  in  Fredericksburg.  There  were  twenty-six  of  us 
in  the  class  of  that  year,  and  our  instructor  was  the  ven 
erable  and  learned  Judge  Lomax,  distinguished  alike 
for  his  legal  attainments  and  the  courteous  dignity  of  his 
bearing.  I  fear  he  realized  from  the  first  that  I  would 
not  prove  a  bright  and  shining  light  in  my  adopted  pro 
fession,  for  he  used  always  to  select  the  easiest  questions 
and  present  them  to  me  for  solution.  One  day  he  in 
quired  of  me,  "  Mr.  Maury,  does  ignorance  of  the  law 
justify  the  commission  of  an  offence?  " 

"Certainly,  sir,"  I  promptly  replied.  I  noticed  that 
he  looked  at  me  with  a  kind  of  hopeless  forbearance,  and 
as  I  had  by  that  time  begun  to  have  grave  misgivings 
of  my  own  as  to  my  legal  qualifications,  I  went  to  him 
and  told  him  that  I  had  decided  not  to  pursue  further 
so  inexorable  and  unjust  a  profession  as  that  of  law. 

Of  all  our  class,  Shake  Caldwell  was  facile  princeps  in 
his  studies,  as  he  was  our  "glass  of  fashion  and  mould 
of  form."  He  was  the  son  of  Mr.  James  Caldwell  of 
New  Orleans,  and  the  beautiful  Widow  Wormley  of 
Fredericksburg.  They  were  near  neighbors  of  ours,  and 
my  relations  with  Shakespeare  were  warm  and  affection 
ate  till  the  day  of  his  death.  He  was  one  of  the  hand 
somest  and  most  elegant  gentlemen  I  have  ever  knownr 
as  he  was  one  of  the  ablest  men  of  his  day.  He  was  so 
handsome,  so  charming,  so  witty,  that  many  people 
credited  him  with  being  a  society  man  only;  but,  while 
brilliant  in  social  life,  he  was  steadfast  and  strong  in 


20  RECOLLECTIONS 


his  affections  and  duties,  with  a  great  capacity  for  busi 
ness,  so  that  when  he  died  he  was  probably  the  richest 
man  in  Virginia,  and  he  used  his  great  wealth  as  a  trust 
confided  to  him  for  the  good  of  his  people. 

After  we  parted, —  I  to  go  to  West  Point,  and  he  to 
seek  his  fortune,  —  I  knew  nothing  of  his  career  for  six 
years  until  he  told  me  of  it  himself.  He  went  to  Mobile 
to  enter  upon  the  practice  of  law.  After  a  year  of 
almost  hopeless  waiting  for  business,  his  father,  who  had 
by  that  time  successfully  established  the  gas  works  of 
New  Orleans,  resolved  to  undertake  similar  works  in 
Mobile,  and  wrote  to  his  son  that  if  he  would  take 
charge  of  the  new  enterprise,  he  would  give  him  $750 
per  annum,  which  was  more  than  his  law  practice 
brought  him.  After  two  years  of  successful  manage 
ment  in  Mobile,  Mr.  James  Caldwell  decided  to 
establish  gas  works  in  Cincinnati,  and  offered  Shake 
speare  the  management  of  these  at  $2000  per  annum. 
This  property  so  increased  in  value  in  a  few  years  that 
Mr.  Caldwell,  enriched  by  the  business  in  Mobile  and 
New  Orleans,  transferred  to  his  son,  for  his  sister  and 
himself,  all  of  his  interests  in  Cincinnati.  Soon  after 
this,  having  acquired  a  handsome  estate,  Shakespeare 
became  attached  to  a  brilliant  young  girl  of  Louisville, 
one  of  the  illustrious  Breckinridge  family.  She  was 
an  orphan  and  an  heiress,  and  had  many  suitors.  His 
own  property  was  worth  about  half  a  million.  Their 
happy  married  life  was  only  ended  by  her  early  death. 
In  1874  his  sister,  who  had  meanwhile  become  Mrs. 
Dean,  died,  and  save  for  a  few  minor  legacies  left  him 
her  entire  fortune,  and  at  his  own  death  his  estate  was 
estimated  at  $  3,000,000. 

When  she  was  young,  Shakespeare's  sister  numbered 
among  her  suitors  Bob  Waring,  a  member  of  a  wealthy 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  21 

family  living  in  the  Northern  Neck.  As  Bob  was  not 
very  well  equipped  in  his  upper  story,  he  was  put  to 
work  in  a  dry-goods  store  in  Fredericksburg,  where  he 
speedily  lost  his  heart  to  Sophy  Caldwell.  About  this 
time  Ole  Bull  came  to  town  to  make  some  music  for  us, 
and  Bob  decided  to  invite  his  lady  love  to  enjoy  the 
concert  in  his  company ;  so  he  presented  himself  before 
her  with  a  request  that  she  would  go  with  him  "  to  hear 
the  old  gentleman."  She  was  at  first  quite  at  a  loss  to 
apprehend  his  meaning,  but  finally  discovered,  from  his 
blushes  and  hesitating  utterances,  that  he  did  not  con 
sider  it  proper  to  pronounce  in  her  divine  presence  the 
name  of  the  great  virtuoso!  Bob  and  his  lady  love 
and  the  fiddler  have  gone  long  ago  where  I  hope  they 
are  each  enjoying  eternal  harmonies. 

About  1872,  Shakespeare  established  in  Louisville  an 
asylum  for  indigent  men  who  were  cared  for,  without 
regard  to  religious  creed,  by  the  Little  Sisters  of  the  Poor. 

In  1875  ne  came  to  Richmond,  to  undertake  and  or 
ganize  a  similar  institution  there  for  the  poor  of  Rich 
mond  and  Fredericksburg.  The  endowment  of  $250,000 
was  to  be  under  the  administration  of  the  Bishop  of  Rich 
mond,  now  Cardinal  Gibbons.  On  the  day  that  the  Vir 
ginia  Legislature  granted  the  charter,  he  was  stricken  with 
paralysis,  but  he  soon  recovered  his  mental  faculties,  and 
earnestly  desired  to  complete  the  good  work  he  had  so 
much  at  heart.  But  Bishop  Gibbons  would  not  permit 
him  to  be  troubled  with  business  under  such  circum 
stances.  After  two  or  three  months  he  suffered  a  re 
lapse,  and  died  in  New  York  city  in  his  fifty-fourth 
year.  He  left  his  great  estate  to  his  two  daughters,  and 
his  generous  intentions  to  his  church  have  been  carried 
out  by  one  of  them,  who  has  richly  endowed  the  Catho 
lic  University  now  being  erected  at  Washington. 


22  RECOLLECTIONS 


On  relinquishing  my  arduous  pursuit  of  legal  learn 
ing,  I  left  Fredericksburg  to  enter  West  Point,  where  I 
was  immured  for  four  years,  the  only  unhappy  years  of 
a  very  happy  life,  made  happy  by  the  love  of  the  truest 
people,  whose  interest  in  me  has  followed  me  until  this 
day.  One  hundred  and  sixty-four  boys  entered  the 
class  with  me,  of  whom  few  had  received  either  social 
or  educational  advantages  of  a  very  high  order.  Mc- 
Clellan  was  a  notable  exception  to  this,  being  under  six 
teen  years  of  age  when  he  entered  the  Academy.  He 
went  at  once  to  the  head  of  the  class  and  remained  there 
until  the  end,  enjoying  the  while  the  affection  and  re 
spect  of  all. 

After  six  months  came  the  first  examination,  which 
pronounced  a  score  or  more  "deficient,"  leaving  Jack 
son  at  the  foot  of  the  class  and  McClellan  at  the  head. 
Jackson  was  then  in  his  nineteenth  year,  and  was  awk 
ward  and  uncultured  in  manner  and  appearance,  but 
there  was  an  earnest  purpose  in  his  aspect  which  im 
pressed  all  who  saw  him.  Birket  Fry,  A.  P.  Hill,  and  I 
were  standing  together  when  he  entered  the  South  Bar 
racks  under  charge  of  a  cadet  sergeant.  He  was  clad 
in  gray  homespun,  and  wore  a  coarse  felt  hat,  such  as 
wagoners  or  constables  —  as  he  hc,d  been  —  usually  wore, 
and  bore  a  pair  of  weather-stained  saddle-bags  across 
his  shoulders.  There  was  about  him  so  sturdy  an  ex 
pression  of  purpose  that  I  remarked,  "That  fellow 
looks  as  if  he  had  come  to  stay."  As  the  sergeant 
returned  from  installing  him  in  his  quarters,  we  asked 
who  the  new  cadet  was.  He  replied,  "  Cadet  Jackson, 
of  Virginia."  That  was  enough  for  me,  and  I  went  at 
once  to  show  him  such  interest  and  kindness  as  would 
have  gratified  others  under  the  circumstances.  But 
Jackson  received  me  so  coldly  that  I  regretted  my  friendly 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  23 


overtures,  and  rejoined  my  companions,  rebuffed  and 
discomfited. 

His  steady  purpose  to  succeed  and  to  do  his  duty  soon 
won  the  respect  of  all,  and  his  teachers  and  comrades 
alike  honored  his  efforts  and  wished  him  God-speed. 
His  barrack  room  was  small  and  bare  and  cold.  Every 
night  just  before  taps  he  would  pile  his  grate  high 
with  anthracite  coal,  so  that  by  the  time  the  lamps  were 
out,  a  ruddy  glow  came  from  his  fire,  by  which,  prone 
upon  the  bare  floor,  he  would  "bone  "  his  lesson  for  the 
next  day,  until  it  was  literally  burned  into  his  brain. 
The  result  of  this  honest  purpose  was  that  from  one 
examination  to  the  next  he  continually  rose  in  his  class 
till  he  reached  the  first  section,  and  we  used  to  say,  "  If 
we  stay  here  another  year,  old  Jack  will  be  head  of  the 
class." 

"/#  medio  tutissimus"  was  my  motto,  and  the  most 
valued  relic  of  my  many  years'  study  of  the  humanities; 
for  it  kept  me  safe  from  disgrace  in  the  examinations, 
except  in  those  especial  accomplishments  of  the  soldier, 
in  all  of  which  I  was  facile  princeps.  Old  Jack  was  very 
clumsy  in  his  horsemanship  and  with  his  sword,  and 
we  were  painfully  anxious  as  we  watched  him  leaping 
the  bar  and  cutting  at  heads.  He  would  do  it,  but  at 
the  risk  of  his  life.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  any  of  his 
biographers  should  claim  for  him  skill  and  grace  as  a 
horseman,  when  they  have  with  truth  so  much  of  real 
greatness  to  tell  of  him. 

In  the  corps  of  cadets  of  that  time  were  many  who 
have  become  famous  beside  Jackson  and  McClellan. 
There  was  Grant,  a  very  good  and  kindly  fellow  whom 
everybody  liked.  He  was  proficient  in  mathematics, 
but  did  not  try  to  excel  at  anything  except  horseman 
ship.  In  the  riding-school  he  was  very  daring.  When 


24  RECOLLECTIONS 


his  turn  came  to  leap  the  bar,  he  would  make  the  dra 
goons  lift  it  from  the  trestles  and  raise  it  as  high  as  their 
heads,  when  he  would  drive  his  horse  over  it,  clearing 
at  least  six  feet. 

Hancock  and  Franklin  were  with  us  too,  and  although 
association  of  the  cadets  of  one  class  with  those  of  an 
other  was  rare,  I  was  much  with  them,  and  was  intimate 
with  Barnard  Bee,  that  noble  South  Carolinian  who, 
upon  the  fatal  field  on  which  he  bravely  fell,  gave  the 
name  of  "  Stonewall "  Jackson  to  our  hero. 

Bee  was  one  of  the  most  admirable  young  soldiers  of 
that  day.  Six  feet  in  stature,  he  was  every  inch  a  sol 
dier,  and  as  gentle  as  he  was  brave.  He  was  distin 
guished  always  for  his  delicate  consideration  for  others, 
as  for  his  manly  and  noble  bearing  in  personal  danger. 
He  served  with  distinction  in  the  Mexican  War,  and 
upon  the  far  western  frontier,  to  fall  at  Manassas  in  the 
very  moment  of  our  first  victory  there.  About  the  close 
of  Bee's  second  year  at  the  Academy,  he  was  court- 
martialed  for  some  infraction  of  the  regulations,  and 
was  meanly  sentenced  to  remain  one  day  behind  his 
classmates,  who  went  off  for  the  biennial  furlough.  He 
had  the  sympathy  of  all  of  us  in  this  peculiar  punish 
ment,  which  struck  at  him  through  his  affections,  and  I 
especially  strove  to  cheer  and  console  him.  The  class 
notified  Bee  that  as  the  steamboat  passed  Gee's  Point 
he  must  be  there,  for  they  would  throw  over  to  him  a 
bottle  of  cocktail  to  comfort  him  in  his  loneliness.  Bee 
liked  cocktail,  but  couldn't  swim.  I,  having  promised 
my  mother  not  to  drink  while  at  the  Academy,  swam  for 
that  bottle  for  love  of  Bee.  For  more  than  an  hour  I 
went  up  and  down  the  Hudson  and  nearly  across  it,  in 
vain  search  for  it.  It  probably  broke  from  its  buoy 
and  went  down.  Poor  Bee  was  in  sorry  luck  that  day. 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  25 


After  I  had  been  at  West  Point  a  year,  my  uncle, 
seeing  how  my  mother  pined  for  me,  and  being  in  high 
favor  with  the  Administration,  procured  for  me  a  three- 
weeks'  leave  of  absence.  I  joined  my  mother  at  the 
Observatory,  and  we  were  all  very  happy  there  together. 
We  had  then,  for  commandant,  a  huge  Tennesseean, 
whose  chief  aim  seemed  to  be  to  keep  the  cadets'  hair 
cropped  close.  When  I  presented  myself  before  him 
on  my  return  from  this  leave  of  absence,  he  looked  at 
me  disapprovingly,  and  said,  "  Go  and  get  your  hair  cut, 
sir,  and  report  to  me."  Joe,  our  barber,  could  cut  hair 
quicker  and  shorter  than  any  living  man.  I  stepped 
into  his  tent,  and  he  ran  his  shears  around  my  head, 
nearly  scalping  me.  In  two  or  three  minutes  I  was  back 
and  stood  attention. 

"Well,  sir,"  said  the  commandant,  "what's  the  mat 
ter  now?  " 

"  You  ordered  me  to  have  my  hair  cut  and  report  to 
you,  sir." 

"Ah !     That's  very  well  indeed,  sir." 

That  evening,  at  dress  parade,  I  was  published  a  cor 
poral. 

The  course  of  study  of  the  second  class  at  West  Point 
was  the  most  difficult.  Bartlett's  "Optics  "  was  a  fear 
ful  book,  and  the  most  formidable  discussion  in  it  was 
that  called  "optical  images."  It  was  a  general  bugbear 
to  the  class;  and  only  the  men  of  the  first  section  were 
expected  to  be  able  to  demonstrate  it.  The  January 
examinations  were  close  at  hand,  and  all  of  the  men 
below  me  had  been  found  deficient  save  the  "  immortal 
section."  I  was  thoroughly  aroused,  and  being  pretty 
good  at  a  spurt,  I  made  myself  master  of  the  course. 
The  "optical  images"  received  my  especial  attention, 
for  if  that  were  well  demonstrated  I  should  be  safe.  The 


26  RECOLLECTIONS    OF   A   VIRGINIAN 

week  before  the  examinations  Professor  Bartlett  came 
into  our  section,  and  Lieutenant  Deshon  of  the  Ordnance 
Corps,  who  was  our  Instructor,  ordered,  "Mr.  Maury 
will  go  to  the  board,  and  demonstrate  the  '  optical 
images.'  " 

It  was  a  complete  success,  a  perfect  demonstration. 
Professor  Bartlett  and  Deshon  were  both  satisfied,  and 
I  got  "  max  ".  on  that  fortunate  effort  of  mine,  and  went 
up  seventeen  files  in  my  standing.  My  classmates,  who 
seemed  as  delighted  as  I  was,  said  as  the  section  was 
dismissed,  "Peri,  you  are  safe."  I  had  been  called 
"Peri  "  since  my  first  arrival  at  the  Academy,  in  conse 
quence  of  my  inability  to  accomplish  anything  in  the 
musical  line  save  that  plaintive  ditty  commencing, 
"Farewell,  farewell  to  thee,  Araby's  daughter."  I  may 
as  well  confess  that  it  constitutes  my  sole  repertory 
unto  this  day. 

Deshon  was  a  very  amiable  and  able  man.  After  the 
Mexican  War  we  were  stationed  together  at  the  Acad 
emy.  He  "got  off"  on  religion,  and  in  our  rides  to 
gether  used  to  try  to  convince  me  of  the  truth  of  his 
new-found  convictions  as  to  transubstantiation,  etc. 
I  told  him  he  would  end  by  being  a  Jesuit,  and  so  he 
did,  having  long  ago  become  a  member  of  the  great 
Church  of  Rome.  A  purer  Christian  never  lived  than  he. 


CHAPTER   III 

Graduated  at  West  Point  and  off  for  the  Mexican  War  —  Operations 
of  the  Campaign  under  General  Scott  and  General  Taylor  —  Anec 
dotes  of  these  Commanders —Other  Officers  who  became  Eminent 
in  the  Civil  War  —  The  Capture  of  Vera  Cruz  —  Wounded  at  Cerro 
Gordo  —  In  the  Hospital  —  The  Journey  to  Jalapa 

N  June,  1846,  I  was  graduated,  and  was  at 
tached  as  second  lieutenant  to  the  Mounted 
Rifles,  now  the  Third  Cavalry.  General 
Taylor's  victories  of  the  8th  and  pth  of  May 
had  aroused  the  enthusiasm  of  our  country,  and  we  lis 
tened  with  intense  interest  to  the  letters  and  reports 
which  came  pouring  in  from  that  army,  —  how,  when 
Charley  May  came  trotting  up  with  his  squadron  of 
dragoons  to  capture  the  Mexican  guns,  young  Randolph 
Ridgely  cried  out  from  his  battery,  "  Hold  on  a  minute, 
Charley,  till  I  draw  their  fire  ";  and  how  young  Kirby 
Smith,  known  as  Seminole  Smith,  leaped  astride  of  a 
Mexican  cannon  as  he  sabred  the  gunners.  These  and 
scores  of  similar  incidents  we  heard  as  we  were  girding 
ourselves  to  join  these  glorious  fellows.  It  was  then 
that  the  Chief  of  Artillery  at  West  Point,  Captain 
Keyes,  came  to  me  and  urged  me  to  accept  the  position 
of  Instructor  of  Artillery  during  the  ensuing  summer 
encampment.  The  offer,  though  kindly  pressed,  was  as 
firmly  declined,  as  it  might  cause  delay  in  reaching  the 
scene  of  active  preparations,  and  I  hastened  home  to 
make  my  farewell  visit  to  my  mother. 

27 


28  RECOLLECTIONS 


Orders  came  shortly  for  me  to  go  to  Baltimore  and 
report  to  Captain  Stevens  Mason,  commanding  a  squad 
ron  of  Mounted  Rifles  about  to  sail  in  the  brig  Soldana 
for  the  army  of  General  Taylor  on  the  Rio  Grande. 
There  were  eight  commissioned  officers  and  one  hundred 
and  sixty  men  who  embarked  in  this  unseaworthy  craft  of 
about  two  hundred  tons.  All  are  gone  now  save  the  sad 
old  writer  of  these  lines.  As  we  sailed  down  Chesa 
peake  Bay  a  gale  arose,  which  compelled  all  shipping, 
numbering  probably  a  hundred  sail,  to  harbor  in  Hamp 
ton  Roads.  The  skipper  of  the  Soldana  was  Captain 
Stubbs,  of  Maine,  well  named.  Full  of  the  importance 
of  his  trust,  his  ambition  moved  him  to  make  sail  for 
Mexico  before  the  gale  was  over.  The  Soldana  was 
the  first  and  only  vessel  to  leave  the  Roads  for  the  heav 
ing  Atlantic  on  this  September  morning,  and  about  two 
A.M.  of  that  same  night  she  rolled  her  rotten  mainmast 
out  and  floated  a  wretched  wreck. 

Her  best  hope  seemed  to  make  for  Charleston,  or  some 
other  port,  and  repair  damages;  but  Stubbs  went  to  work 
with  great  energy,  and  rigged  up  a  jury  mast,  and  on 
the  thirty- second  day  of  her  voyage,  after  many  storms 
and  calms,  having  been  long  reported  "lost  with  all 
hands,"  we  landed  at  Point  Isabel,  every  man  of  us  safe 
and  well.  The  news  of  Taylor's  capture  of  Monterey 
had  just  come  in,  and  the  hope  of  participating  in  that 
action,  which  had  induced  this  squadron  of  the  Rifles  to 
move  without  waiting  for  horses,  was  disappointed. 

The  Rifles  moved  on  up  the  Rio  Grande  to  Camargo, 
whence  our  colonel,  Persifer  Smith,  then  in  Monterey, 
and  a  soldier  of  reputation,  had  us  ordered  to  Monterey 
as  escort  to  some  siege  pieces  which,  under  the  personal 
efforts  of  young  Stonewall  Jackson,  were  moving  to  that 
city.  He  worked  at  them  in  the  muddy  roads  as  he 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  29 


used  to  do  at  West  Point,  and  ever  did  in  his  great 
career,  and  they  had  to  move  along.  In  Monterey 
were  the  heroes  of  the  campaign,  and  some  of  the  War 
of  1812  and  of  many  an  Indian  fight. 

General  Zachary  Taylor,  a  simple  and  unpretending 
gentleman,  may  have  been  Jackson's  model;  for  he  had 
more  of  the  silent,  rapid,  impetuous  methods,  which 
Jackson  practised  later  on,  than  any  American  general 
save  Forrest. 

Monterey  was  a  pleasant  place  for  the  month  or  two 
of  our  stay  there.  Grant  was  then  Quartermaster  of  the 
Fourth  Infantry.  I  had  been  badly  wounded  while 
hunting  near  Camargo,  so  as  to  disable  me  from  duty 
while  in  Monterey,  and  Grant  being  also,  by  the  duties 
of  his  office,  free  to  go  when  and  where  he  pleased,  we 
were  much  together  and  enjoyed  the  association.  Grant 
was  a  thoroughly  kind  and  manly  young  fellow,  with  no 
bad  habits,  and  was  respected  and  liked  by  his  brother 
officers,  especially  by  those  of  his  own  regiment. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  news  came  that  General 
Scott  had  arrived  in  the  country,  and  assumed  command 
of  the  army;  that  he  had  changed  the  line  of  operations ; 
and  that  General  Taylor's  forces  would  in  large  part  be 
drawn  off  to  Scott.  This  caused  much  talk  among  us, 
for  Taylor  had  won  the  unbounded  confidence  and  love 
of  all  of  us,  while  Scott  was  sneered  at  as  "  Old  Fuss  and 
Feathers."  The  expectation  was  that  we  should  forth 
with  have  an  order  to  trim  our  hair  and  beards  accord 
ing  to  the  regulations  of  the  army.  With  us  was  General 
David  Emanuel  Twiggs,  a  grand-looking  old  man,  six 
feet  two  inches  in  stature,  with  long,  flowing  white  hair, 
and  a  beard  which  hung '  over  his  broad  breast  like 
Aaron's.  As  I  passed  his  tent  one  morning  early,  he  was 
outside  of  it  taking  a  sponge  bath,  stripped  to  the  waist. 


30  RECOLLECTIONS 


I  had  never  seen  a  grander  subject  for  an  artist's  study. 
A  few  days  after  I  saw  him  again,  shorn  of  his  hoary 
locks,  hair  and  beard  close  cropped,  in  anticipation  of 
orders  which  were  never  issued ;  for  Scott  addressed 
himself  to  the  serious  work  of  the  Mexican  campaign, 
which  has  ranked  him  so  high  among  the  world's  great 
captains. 

General  Taylor  was  ordered  to  move  down  to  Victoria 
with  his  available  forces,  where  Scott  would  meet  him. 
Our  route  lay  along  the  base  of  the  Sierra  Madre  Moun 
tains,  amid  beautiful  scenery  and  through  orange  groves 
and  fields  of  sugar-cane,  and  was  crossed  by  clear,  cool 
mountain  streams,  in  which  we  bathed  after  our  long  and 
dusty  marches.  The  country  people  supplied  us  with 
poultry,  vegetables,  and  fruit,  and  we  greatly  enjoyed  our 
march.  At  Victoria  we  did  not  meet  General  Scott,  but 
were  joined  by  troops  from  Camargo.  Among  those  who 
returned  with  General  Taylor  towards  Monterey  were 
Colonel  Jeff  Davis  and  his  famous  regiment  of  Mississippi 
Rifles,  who,  two  months  later,  turned  the  tide  of  battle 
in  Taylor's  famous  victory  at  Buena  Vista.  With  them, 
too,  went  Bragg's  battery.  In  that  battery  I  met  George 
H.  Thomas,  an  enthusiastic  Virginian  then  and  till  the 
very  moment,  many  years  later,  when  he  drew  his  sword 
against  our  dear  old  State.  Attached  to  the  battery  also 
was  Lieutenant  Bob  Wheat,  afterwards  a  distinguished 
soldier.  Wheat  has  been  somewhat  lightly  spoken  of  as 
an  adventurer  in  wars,  but  there  was  earnest  feeling  in 
him.  In  all  his  long  and  dangerous  services  he  bore 
in  his  bosom  the  little  prayer-book  his  mother  gave  him 
when  he  first  left  home,  and  on  the  morning  of  his  last 
battle  (I  believe  he  fell  in  the  fierce  fight  at  Gaines  Mill), 
when  he  had  formed  his  battalion  he  said,  "  Boys,  before 
we  move  into  this  fight  I  will  read  you  something  from 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  31 


this  little  book."  He  was  listened  to  with  great  feeling, 
and  a  few  hours  later  he  fell  dead  in  the  very  prime 
of  his  career. 

We  were  quiet  for  some  days  at  Victoria,  where  no 
event  of  interest  disturbed  us  save  the  stealing  of  General 
Taylor's  horse,  "Old  Whitey."  Whereupon  the  general 
promptly  arrested  the  Alcalde  of  the  town  as  hostage  for 
the  safe  and  early  restitution  of  "  Old  Whitey,"  who  was 
restored  next  day.  Just  previous  to  this  Charley  May 
had  been  sent  with  his  squadron  to  explore  a  certain 
route  through  the  mountains.  He  rejoined  us  at  Victoria, 
reporting  that  he  had  been  beset  in  a  wild  gorge  by  the 
Mexicans,  who  fired  upon  them  from  the  cliffs,  and  rolled 
great  rocks  down  on  them.  He  had  lost  his  rear  guard 
under  Lieutenant  Sturgis,  whom  he  arrested,  and  who 
was  court-martialed  at  Victoria.  Bragg  volunteered  to 
act  as  counsel  for  Sturgis,  who  was  entirely  acquitted, 
and  came  out  of  the  affair  with  more  credit  than  any  one 
concerned  in  it.  We  young  fellows,  as  well  as  the  old 
ones,  were  all  for  Sturgis,  who  seemed  to  have  been  made 
a  scapegoat  of. 

It  was  during  this  march  that  one  of  our  young  officers, 
Richie,  just  from  West  Point,  was  lassoed  and  murdered 
while  passing  through  a  Mexican  village.  We  all  liked 
him,  and  ample  vengeance  befell  that  village. 

At  Tampico  we  met  General  Scott  and  some  thousands 
of  troops  assembling  for  the  descent  upon  Vera  Cruz. 
In  all  there  were  over  14,000,  of  whom  but  few  were 
veterans.  All  had  flint-lock  muskets  save  the  Rifles  and 
some  artillery  companies. 

The  plains  about  Tampico  afforded  ample  ground  for 
drill,  and  here  we  had,  for  the  first  time,  drilling  by  Gen 
eral  Scott  in  the  evolutions  of  the  line.  As  soon  as  all 
the  transports  had  arrived  with  troops  and  equipments, 


32  RECOLLECTIONS 


our  whole  force  sailed  for  the  rendezvous  off  Lobos 
Island,  whence  we  sailed  for  Vera  Cruz.  More  than  a 
hundred  men-of-war  and  transports  made  up  the  fleet, 
which  landed  at  the  island  of  Sacrificios  for  the  attack 
upon  the  city.  Bee  and  I  were  in  the  same  transport, 
and  on  the  day  before  the  debarkation  we  paid  a  visit 
to  a  friend  of  Bee's,  the  captain  of  a  gunboat.  When 
I  was  introduced  to  him  he  said :  "  Are  you  a  son  of 
Captain  John  Minor  Maury  ?  Captain  Tatnell,  who  has 
just  left  me,  declared  him  to  be  the  finest  officer  in  the 
United  States  Navy."  To  hear  this  on  the  eve  of  my 
first  battle  filled  me  with  emotion,  and  with  the  desire 
to  be  worthy  of  such  a  father,  and  with  honest  pride  that 
the  tribute  should  be  paid  in  the  presence  of  so  noble 
a  friend  as  Bee. 

Our  army  landed  at  Vera  Cruz,  14,000  strong,  in  four 
divisions.  The  landing  was  made  in  whale-boats  rowed 
by  the  sailors  of  the  fleet.  In  each  boat  were  from  fifty 
to  sixty  soldiers,  and  it  was  a  glorious  sight  to  see  the 
first  division,  under  General  Worth,  move  off  at  2  P.M. 
at  the  signal  from  the  flag- ship.  The  fifty  great  barges 
kept  in  line,  until  near  the  shore,  when  General  Worth 
himself  led  the  way  to  make  the  landing  first  of  all,  and 
being  in  a  fine  gig  he  accomplished  this,  and  was  the  first 
man  of  the  army  to  plant  the  American  flag  upon  that 
shore  of  Mexico.  The  Mexicans  made  no  resistance, 
and  the  boats  'rapidly  returned  for  the  second  division, 
under  Twiggs,  which  was  as  quietly  transported  to  the 
shore.  Then  the  volunteers  came,  and  soon  after  dark 
Scott  had  his  whole  army  in  battle  order  about  three 
miles  from  Vera  Cruz. 

Early  next  morning  we  moved  around  the  city  till  we 
came  to  the  great  national  road,  built  by  the  Spaniards, 
from  Vera  Cruz  to  the  city  of  Mexico.  The  Mounted 


OF   A    VIRGINIAN  33 


Rifles  led  in  this  investment,  and  C  Company  was  in 
front  when  we  came  out  upon  the  great  Camino  del  Rey, 
over  which  at  that  moment  a  train  of  mules,  laden  with 
wine  and  escorted  by  a  troop  of  Mexicans,  was  passing. 
We  debouched  into  the  road  and  fired  a  few  shots  at  the 
Mexican  dragoons,  who  fled  back  to  Vera  Cruz,  firing  at 
us  over  their  shoulders  as  they  ran.  When  our  work  for 
that  day  was  done,  we  had  completed  the  investment 
of  Vera  Cruz.  We  were  very  hungry  and  thirsty.  So 
our  Texas  guide  lassoed  a  fat  beef,  a  keg  of  sherry  was 
broached,  and  we  bivouacked  upon  the  northern  beach 
of  Vera  Cruz,  just  beyond  cannon  range  of  the  city,  and 
remained  there  until,  after  two  or  three  weeks'  bombard 
ment,  Vera  Cruz  surrendered. 

While  lying  there  our  scouts  brought  in  word  that  a 
considerable  body  of  Mexican  guerillas  had  closed  up 
to  a  bridge  two  or  three  miles  in  our  rear.  C  Company 
was  ordered  to  go  and  look  after  them.  We  found  sev 
eral  hundred  of  them.  They  demanded  our  surrender, 
and  were  so  defiant  and  aggressive  that  we  sent  a  runner 
back  to  camp  to  report  the  situation.  Meantime,  we 
took  up  a  defensive  position  till  our  express  returned, 
guiding  General  Smith  and  five  or  six  companies  of  the 
Rifles.  Our  company  was  in  advance,  and  we  moved  to 
the  attack  in  company  front,  occupying  the  whole  breadth 
of  the  road.  The  Mexicans  had  formed  and  were  awaiting 
us  in  ambuscade,  and  fired  a  volley  at  us.  They  were 
not  thirty  yards  distant,  yet  not  one  of  our  men  was 
touched.  We  sprang  forward,  charged  and  routed  them, 
chased  them  half  a  mile,  and  marched  back  in  great 
delight  over  our  first  affair.  Sergeant  Harris,  of  Winches 
ter,  Virginia,  was  the  only  man  seriously  wounded.  I  won 
my  first  compliment  in  special  orders  for  good  conduct. 

While  we  were  still  bombarding  Vera  Cruz  the  news  of 


34  RECOLLECTIONS 


General  Taylor's  victory  over  Santa  Anna's  army  at  Buena 
Vista  was  received.  General  Scott  published  it  to  the 
army,  congratulating  us  "  upon  this  great  victory  of  the 
successful  General  Taylor."  It  was  Taylor's  fourth  deci 
sive  victory  since  May,  and  was  fought  with  only  4500 
men  against  23,000.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe 
that,  had  not  his  forces  been  diverted  to  Scott,  Taylor 
would  have  captured  the  city  of  Mexico  at  as  early  a 
date  as  the  latter. 

After  Santa  Anna's  defeat  at  Buena  Vista,  a  serious 
revolt  was  organized  against  him  in  the  city  of  Mexico. 
He  moved  at  once  to  the  capital,  restored  order,  and 
marched  up  rapidly  with  his  army  to  relieve  the  siege  of 
Vera  Cruz.  Before  his  arrival  Vera  Cruz  had  fallen,  and 
Scott  was  prepared  to  advance  upon  the  city  of  Mexico. 

When  the  white  flag  was  shown  by  Vera  Cruz  we  were 
overjoyed  and  greatly  comforted,  for  we  had  been  nearly 
three  weeks  in  the  sand  hills  without  change  of  raiment, 
our  opportunities  for  bathing  were  very  limited,  and  the 
fleas  swarmed  over  us.  I  have  never  seen  anything  like 
those  Vera  Cruz  fleas.  If  one  were  to  stand  ten  minutes 
in  the  sand,  the  fleas  would  fall  upon  him  in  hundreds. 
How  they  live  in  that  dry  sand  no  one  knows.  They 
don't  live  very  high,  for  they  are  ever  ready  for  a  change 
of  diet.  The  engineer  officers,  G.  W.  Smith,  and 
McClellan,  slept  in  canvas  bags  drawn  tight  about  their 
necks,  having  previously  greased  themselves  all  over  with 
salt  pork.  Perhaps  the  fleas  did  not  partake  of  them, 
but  they  made  up  for  it  by  regaling  themselves  on  us  of 
the  line  who  had  no  canvas  bags. 

At  the  sight  of  the  white  flag  all  was  gaiety  along  our 
lines ;  work  and  anxiety  gave  place  to  pride  and  comfort. 
Our  servants  brought  us  fresh  clothes  from  the  fleet,  and 
never  had  we  enjoyed  them  more.  Commissioners  were 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  35 


appointed  to  arrange  terms  of  surrender,  and  General 
Scott  selected  Captains  Joseph  E.  Johnston  and  Robert 
E.  Lee  to  represent  us,  and  nobly  they  did  so.  This 
selection  gave  great  satisfaction  throughout  the  army.  In 
rich  uniforms,  superbly  mounted,  they  were  the  most  sol 
dierly,  as  they  were  the  ablest,  men  in  the  army.  We 
young  Virginians  were  proud  that  day  to  see  them,  and 
to  know  that  our  two  victorious  armies  were  led  by  two 
great  Virginia  generals. 

We  did  not  linger  long  at  Vera  Cruz,  for  Scott  was 
eager  to  press  on  and  capture  the  capital,  and  Santa 
Anna  was  already  preparing  to  dispute  his  passage  at 
Cerro  Gordo,  a  strong  position  three  or  four  days  from 
us.  Santa  Anna  first  took  position  a  few  days'  march 
from  Vera  Cruz,  near  Plan  del  Rio,  on  the  great  national 
road.  Here  he  entrenched  himself,  and  here  we  attacked 
him  on  the  zyth  of  April,  1847.  The  Rifles  marched  at 
the  head  of  the  army,  and  early  in  the  evening,  as  we 
were  lying  by  the  side  of  the  road,  word  came  from 
Lieutenant  Gardner,  who  had  been  sent  up  with  an  infan 
try  picket,  that  the  enemy  was  advancing  to  attack  us. 
"  Send  up  the  Rifles  !  "  shouted  General  Harney,  and  up 
we  moved,  and  in  a  few  minutes  were  warmly  engaged 
with  the  Mexican  advance.  We  drove  them  steadily 
back  to  their  fortifications  on  the  high  telegraph  hill. 
Our  line  was  halted  in  the  edge  of  the  timber  which 
covered  the  hill  we  had  just  occupied.  The  Mexican 
skirmishers  rallied  and  formed  in  line  of  battle,  just  below 
their  fortifications  on  the  opposite  hill,  whence  they  kept 
up  a  dropping  fire  upon  any  of  our  men  who  showed 
themselves.  Santa  Anna  himself,  in  citizen's  dress  and 
mounted  on  a  superb  gray  horse,  was  riding  about  the 
field,  ordering  the  movements  of  the  troops.  He  was  an 
able  general  and  a  game  soldier.  Several  of  my  men  fired 


36  RECOLLECTIONS 


at  him,  but  at  such  long  range  as  forbade  accurate 
shooting.  We  were  in  the  undergrowth  which  crowned 
the  hill,  and  from  here  I  observed  a  little  body  of  Rifles, 
who  under  Lieutenant  Gibbs,  had  ensconced  themselves 
in  a  sheltered  spot  rather  nearer  to  the  enemy  than  our 
own,  and  who  were  in  no  little  danger  of  being  cut  off. 

I  called  upon  my  men  to  follow,  and  went  down  the 
slope,  believing  they  were  behind  me ;  for  as  I  advanced 
the  Mexican  battalion  fired  very  actively.  Before  I  had 
gone  a  hundred  yards  a  ball  shattered  my  left  arm,  and 
turning  I  found  myself  alone  on  that  bare  hillside.  The 
hill  was  very  steep,  and  as  I  turned  they  opened  a  rapid 
file  fire  upon  me,  but  I  managed  to  reach  the  cover  of 
the  brush,  faint  and  suffering  severely.  As  I  did  so,  a 
rifleman  sprang  from  behind  the  only  tree  affording  shel 
ter,  and  ran  to  the  rear  for  help.  This  quickly  came  in 
the  person  of  Sergeant  Bob  Coleman,  a  gallant  soldier 
and  an  old  schoolmate.  He  assisted  me  to  a  surgeon, 
who  cheerfully  said,  "  You've  a  very  bad  arm  ;  I  shall  have 
to  cut  it  off.  " 

I  replied  :  "  There's  a  man  over  there  whose  leg  is 
worse  than  my  arm.  When  you  are  ready  for  me  you  will 
find  me  behind  that  big  rock  down  the  hill."  On  reach 
ing  the  rock  I  found  a  negro  boy,  a  servant  of  Lieutenant 
Stuart,  whose  horse  he  had  in  charge.  I  mounted  it,  and 
set  out  for  Plan  del  Rio,  five  miles  in  the  rear,  where  I 
knew  there  were  surgeons  and  all  proper  accommodations 
for  the  wounded.  Dr.  Cuyler  fixed  me  as  comfortably  as 
possible,  and  said,  "  We  can  save  that  arm,  Maury  "  ;  to 
which  I  replied,  "  Do  it  at  all  risks.  I  will  die  before  I 
will  lose  it,  and  I  assume  all  responsibility." 

Next  morning  the  battle  raged  fiercely,  but  soon  came 
the  cheerful  strains  of  "  Yankee  Doodle  "  from  our  band 
escorting  the  Mexican  prisoners.  Scott  had  won  a  great 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN 


37 


victory,  and  our  cavalry  was  pursuing  the  flying  Mexicans 
towards  the  city  of  Mexico.  The  Rifles  had  borne  an 
active  part  in  the  battle.  Captain  Mason  and  Lieuten 
ants  Ewell  and  Davis  were  killed ;  I  was  severely,  and  three 
other  officers  slightly,  wounded.  In  the  long  and  active 
service  of  that  famous  regiment,  every  Virginian  who 
entered  it  was  killed,  except  myself,  and  I  was  crippled  for 
life.  Generals  Jeb  Stuart,  William  E.  Jones,  and  Cham- 
blis,  who  fell  long  afterward,  were  of  this  number.  Lor- 
ing,  our  colonel,  lost  his  arm  at  the  gate  of  Mexico,  but 
that  never  abated  his  wonderful  activity  in  many  Indian 
campaigns,  in  the  war  between  the  States,  and  in  the 
Egyptian  campaign  against  Abyssinia.  He  served  with 
distinction  in  the  Egyptian  wars,  and  after  his  return 
published  one  of  the  most  interesting  books  on  that 
country  ever  written.  To  the  very  last  his  impetuous 
courage  was  unabated,  and  he  was  one  of  the  most  gen 
erous  of  men.  He  had  borne  an  active  part  in  the  Texan 
war  of  independence  and  in  the  Seminole  wars  in  Florida, 
having  gone  from  Florida  to  Texas  as  a  volunteer  at  six 
teen  years  of  age. 

While  I  was  being  borne  from  the  field,  Colonel  Sum- 
ner,  a  rough  old  dragoon  who  had  been  temporarily  put 
in  command  of  the  Rifles  in  the  absence  of  our  colonel, 
Persifer  Smith,  met  me,  and  learning  what  was  going  on 
in  front  hastened  forward,  and  was  almost  immediately 
knocked  over  by  a  glancing  ball  upon  his  head.  As  soon 
after  being  carried  to  the  rear  as  he  could  walk,  he  came 
to  me  and  spoke  very  kindly  to  me,  calling  me  "  my 
brave  boy,"  which  compensated  for  all  the  wound  and 
pain  and  for  some  previous  roughness  of  manner  to  me. 
When  we  reached  Jalapa,  Generals  Harney,  Twiggs,  and 
Riley  came  to  see  me,  and  made  me  proud  and  happy  by 
the  assurance  that  good  reports  of  their  boy  would  glad- 


38  RECOLLECTIONS 


den  the  hearts  of  my  dear  mother  and  uncle  far  away  in 
old  Fredericksburg. 

On  the  evening  of  the  i  yth,  as  I  was  making  my  escape 
from  that  bloody-minded  surgeon  who  was  so  bent  upon 
cutting  off  my  arm,  I  was  a  sorry  spectacle,  covered 
with  blood,  pale  and  faint,  one  man  leading  my  horse, 
while  Tom,  the  negro,  glad  enough  to  get  off  from  that 
field,  kept  close  to  me  with  a  flask  of  brandy,  and  when 
he  saw  me  about  to  faint  he  would  set  me  up  with  a  pull 
at  it.  We  met  General  James  Shields  at  the  head  of  his 
brigade,  marching  rapidly  to  go  in  the  fight.  He  was  a 
fine,  manly-looking  fellow,  and  showed  me  much  kindly 
interest  and  sympathy.  Next  morning,  in  storming  a  bat 
tery,  a  grape  shot  struck  him  fair  in  the  breast,  and  passed 
out  at  his  back.  Dr.  Cuyler  said  to  me,  "  Maury,  I  as 
sure  you,  you  can  double  up  your  fist  and  pass  your  arm 
through  his  body."  Yet  he  got  well  very  soon,  was 
severely  wounded  again  at  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  lived 
to  play  an  important  part  in  making  the  fame  of  Stonewall 
Jackson,  and  to  claim  a  victory  over  him  at  Kernstown. 
He  died  several  years  ago,  greatly  honored  by  his  people, 
who  might  have  made  him  President  but  for  his  foreign 
nationality.  I  never  saw  him  after  that  memorable  meet 
ing,  but  have  always  remembered  gratefully  his  warm  and 
manly  sympathy  for  me. 

On  the  morning  of  the  next  day  after  being  wounded, 
I  was  removed  from  the  tent  to  a  spacious  reed  house 
in  the  village,  quite  airy  and  comfortable.  Captain  Joe 
Johnston,  just  promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  one  of 
our  new  regiments,  was  lying  there.  He  had  been  badly 
shot  six  days  before  in  a  daring  reconnaissance.  During 
the  day  Captain  Mason  was  brought  in,  and  lay  in  one  of 
the  rooms  opening  upon  the  main  hall,  where  I  was.  A 
cannon-ball  had  torn  off  his  leg,  but  he  was  very  bright 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  39 


and  game.  He  and  I  often  talked  of  the  fine  times  we 
would  have  at  the  Virginia  Springs  in  the  coming  sum 
mer.  Poor  fellow  !  He  never  saw  them  again.  Two  or 
three  weeks  later  blood  poison  set  in,  and  he  died  soon 
after  being  taken  to  Jalapa.  His  history  was  a  sorrowful 
one.  The  only  son  of  Armstead  Mason,  who  fell  in  a 
duel  with  his  kinsman,  Colonel  McCarthy  Stevens,  Mason 
inherited  his  father's  fine  estate  of  Selma,  in  Loudon 
County,  where  he  lived  extravagantly.  A  few  years  be 
fore  his  death  he  married ;  his  wife  died  within  a  year, 
and  after  that  all  went  ill  with  Mason.  When  his  prop 
erty  was  all  gone,  he  procured  a  captaincy  in  the  Rifles, 
and  died  bravely,  a  representative  gentleman  of  the  old 
times. 

A  few  days  after  being  placed  in  the  house,  Dr.  Cuyler 
said  to  me :  "  Maury,  there's  a  young  fellow,  Derby, 
across  the  street,  lying  wounded  among  the  volunteers, 
who  says  he  is  a  classmate  of  yours  and  wishes  to  come 
over  here.  I  would  not  agree  to  it  without  consulting 
you,  for  he  is  a  coarse  fellow ;  but  I  don't  like  him  to  be 
among  the  volunteers."  In  that  war  the  volunteers  were 
not  regarded  as  they  were  in  the  great  war  between  the 
States. 

Of  course  I  cheerfully  agreed  to  his  being  brought 
over,  and  his  cot  was  placed  in  the  hall  beside  mine. 
The  partitions  of  the  rooms  were  of  reeds  wattled  together, 
so  that  conversations  could  be  heard  from  one  room  to 
the  other.  John  Phoenix  Derby  was  an  incessant  talker, 
and  uttered  a  stream  of  coarse  wit,  to  the  great  disgust 
of  Joe  Johnston,  who  endured  it  in  silence,  till  one  day 
he  heard  Derby  order  his  servant  to  capture  a  kid  out 
of  a  flock  of  goats  passing  our  door,  when  he  broke  out, 
"  If  you  dare  to  do  that,  I'll  have  you  court-martialed 
and  cashiered  or  shot !  " 


40  RECOLLECTIONS 


In  about  ten  days  General  Scott,  having  chased  Santa 
Anna  out  of  the  road,  established  himself  at  Jalapa,  a 
lovely  little  town  on  the  slope  of  the  mountains,  looking 
down  towards  the  sea,  some  ninety  miles  distant.  Scott 
sent  litters  and  a  strong  escort  to  move  us  up  into  that 
delicious  climate.  We  took  two  days  to  make  the  trip. 
All  of  the  second  day's  march  was  a  race  between  my 
litter  and  that  of  a  volunteer  officer.  We  frequently 
passed  each  other  and  had  some  pleasant  chat.  Two 
of  my  three  relays  were  short  men,  all  of  his  were  long- 
legged  fellows,  so  that  he  could  pass  my  short  men,  and 
I  could  close  up  when  my  tall  ones  came.  His  were  all 
good-natured  volunteers  from  Tennessee,  I  believe.  I 
said,  "  I  fear  you'll  beat  me  ;  you  have  the  legs  of  me." 

"  Ah,  you  can't  say  that,"  and  the  poor  fellow  held  up 
the  stump  of  his  amputated  leg.  I  had  not  known  before 
the  nature  of  his  wound.  I  privately  told  my  men  I 
would  give  them  a  gold  piece  or  two,  if  they  would  get 
me  into  Jalapa  first,  and  so  they  did.  Mason,  Derby, 
and  I  were  quartered  in  an  elegant  house,  where,  in  a 
short  time,  poor  Mason  left  us.  I  went  to  the  Springs 
without  him. 

After  Captain  Mason's  death,  from  blood  poison,  the 
doctors  discovered  symptoms  of  it  in  me ;  but  happily 
they  passed  away,  and  I  was  permitted  to  walk  about  the 
city  and  enjoy  the  beautiful  scenery,  the  luxurious  baths, 
the  fruits,  and  the  flowers,  and  nowhere  had  I  seen  more 
pretty  faces  than  were  found  among  the  women  of 
Jalapa. 

Every  day  I  went  to  see  my  friend,  Colonel  Joe  John 
ston,  still  ill  of  his  grievous  wounds.  He  was  affectionately 
tended  by  his  nephew,  Preston  Johnston,  who  was  dear  to 
him  as  a  son.  He  was  a  bright  and  joyous  young  fellow, 
full  of  hope  and  courage,  and  worthy  of  the  great  race 


OF  A  VIRGINIAN  41 


from  which  he  sprung.  He  fell  a  few  months  later  while 
working  his  gun  against  Chapultepec.  Only  a  few  weeks 
before  General  Johnston  died,  ,he  spoke  to  me  of  the 
death  of  this  bright  young  lad,  who  had  been  so  dear  to 
him.  He  said,  "  When  Lee  came  to  tell  me  of  Preston's 
mortal  wound,  he  wept  as  he  took  my  hand  in  his." 


CHAPTER  IV 

Recollections  of  Jalapa  —  General  Harney  and  the  Seminoles  —  White 
Sulphur  Springs  and  its  Patrons  before  the  War  —  The  Ashby 
Brothers —  Ordered  to  West  Point  as  Instructor  —  Sports  and  Jokes 
of  the  Officers'  Mess— Anecdotes  of  McClellan,  Fitz  John  Porter, 
and  Others  —  Shooting  and  Other  Excursions 

jN  my  daily  visits  to  Johnston  I  passed  a  resi 
dence  with  deep,  iron-barred  windows.  As 
I  went  feebly  by  one  day  on  the  arm  of  a 
friend,  Lieutenant  Cappee,  I  heard  a  sweet, 
sympathetic  voice  murmur,  "  Pobre  teniente  !  "  ("  Poor 
lieutenant ! ")  ;  and,  turning,  I  saw  a  beautiful  young  girl, 
a  perfect  vision  of  female  loveliness  and  sympathy.  She 
was  a  blonde,  with  exquisite  features,  blue  eyes,  and  curl 
ing  golden  hair.  I  passed  and  repassed  there  daily,  and, 
after  that,  always  received  a  smile  and  a  bow  from  her, 
but  our  acquaintance  never  progressed  farther.  I  learned 
from  an  American  physician,  who  had  lived  twenty  years 
in  Jalapa,  that  she  was  the  favorite  daughter  of  Santa 
Anna,  who,  though  he  had  never  married  her  mother, 
had  richly  endowed  this  child,  whom  any  gentleman  in 
Jalapa  would  gladly  have  made  his  wife.  If  she  be  alive 
now,  she  must  be  sixty  years  old,  and  not  so  attractive 
and  lovable  as  she  was  when  I  last  saw  her. 

My  recollections  of  Jalapa  are  the  most  agreeable  of 
any  I  retain  of  Mexico.  We  were  elegantly  lodged  and 
cared  for,  and  I  received  much  kind  attention  from  the 
general  officers,  who  called  to  see  how  I  was  getting  on 

42 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   A   VIRGINIAN  43 

and  to  say  kind  things  to  me.  Amongst  them  was  General 
Benet  Riley,  who  had  risen  from  a  private  soldier  to  his 
present  rank  for  repeated  acts  of  gallantry.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  stature  and  fine  martial  bearing,  but  entirely 
free  from  any  ostentation.  He  had  the  proverbial  humor 
of  his  race,  and,  having  lost  a  part  of  his  palate,  his  voice 
was  quite  remarkable  and  added  zest  to  his  narrations. 
He  told  me  that  he  had  been  a  shoemaker  before  he 
enlisted  in  the  last  war,  and  that  after  he  acquired  the 
rank  of  General,  a  fellow  came  to  him  one  day  and  pro 
posed  to  get  up  a  coat  of  arms  for  him.  He  "  damned 
him"  —  told  him  to  "Clear  out;  because,  sir,  I  never 
had  a  coat  of  any  kind  till  I  was  twenty-one  years  old." 

Generals  Twiggs  and  Harney  of  the  Dragoons,  and 
Sumner  as  well,  were  all  men  of  great  stature  and  fine 
physique.  It  was  quite  remarkable  that  our  dragoons 
should  have  included  so  many  men  of  extraordinary 
size  and  weight.  In  other  countries  this  arm  of  the 
service  seeks  light  and  active  men.  When  Charley 
May  was  married,  his  groomsmen  were  his  handsome 
brother  Julian,  Sacket,  and  several  others,  all  six  feet 
and  over.  An  English  officer,  who  was  present  at  the 
marriage,  said  to  May,  "  I  understand  you  gentlemen 
are  all  of  the  light  dragoons.  I  would  like  very  much 
to  see  your  heavies,  don't  you  know." 

General  Harney,  a  native  of  Louisiana,  was  a  very 
remarkable  man.  Of  strong  convictions  and  extraor 
dinary  physical  powers,  he  made  his  presence  felt  by  all 
sorts  of  people.  While  serving  as  Captain  of  Dragoons 
in  Florida,  he  and  his  company  were  surprised  in  their 
camp  one  night  by  the  Seminoles,  and  all  but  himself 
were  murdered  as  they  slept.  They  were  under  their 
mosquito  nets  when  the  Indians  crept  upon  them.  Two 
Indians  were  appointed  to  kill  each  man,  and  took  their 


44  RECOLLECTIONS 


places  on  either  side  of  him.  At  the  signal,  all  struck 
and  killed,  save  those  assigned  to  Harney,  who,  finding 
themselves  too  far  removed  from  the  company's  stores, 
deserted  their  post,  that  they  might  be  sure  of  securing 
their  share  of  the  plunder.  Harney,  aroused  by  the 
outcry,  sprang  from  his  bed,  accoutred  as  he  was,  and 
fled.  He  was  six  feet  two  inches  tall  and  his  legs  were 
well  proportioned,  and  no  Indian  was  able  to  run  with 
him.  He  took  the  route  for  the  nearest  station,  some 
forty  miles  distant,  through  the  Everglades,  where  he 
arrived  safely.  He  immediately  got  together  a  consider 
able  force,  and  succeeded  in  defeating  and  capturing  a 
majority  of  the  band  which  had  attacked  him.  He 
told  me  he  hanged  all  of  his  prisoners,  because  the 
Indians  had  a  great  and  superstitious  horror  of  hanging ; 
for  they  believe  that  no  man's  soul  will  be  received  into 
the  happy  hunting  grounds  that  does  not  pass  through  the 
throat,  which  is  impossible  when  that  route  is  closed  by 
a  rope ;  it  must  seek  another  road  of  exit,  and  all  such 
souls  are  rejected  at  the  gates  of  Paradise.  He  said  a 
fine  moral  effect  was  produced  upon  the  Indians  by  this 
method  of  execution. 

Early  in  June  I  was  ordered  out  of  the  country  to 
report  when  well  enough  for  recruiting  service.  We  went 
down  to  Vera  Cruz  in  a  mule  litter,  the  most  delightful 
of  all  the  modes  of  travelling  I  have  ever  attempted.  An 
old  paymaster,  Major  Hammond,  and  I  had  the  litter  to 
ourselves.  We  had  pillows  and  lay  vis-a-vis  on  a  great 
mattress.  Our  light  baggage  was  in  with  us,  and  our 
books  and  lunch,  and  our  pistols  made  us  feel  safe.  We 
reached  Vera  Cruz  at  midday  of  a  broiling  June  morn 
ing.  The  yellow  fever  was  raging,  and  as  we  passed  the 
churches,  the  whole  interior  seemed  occupied  by  the  cots 
of  the  sick.  It  was  a  relief,  indeed,  to  get  aboard  a  com- 


OP   A   VIRGINIAN  45 


fortable  steamer  and  breathe  the  fresh  sea  breeze.  In 
those  days  wounded  men  were  rarely  seen  in  our  country ; 
therefore,  I  was  an  object  of  interest  in  Virginia,  where  I 
received  more  than  my  meed  of  praise,  for  I  was  again 
complimented  in  orders  and  promoted,  and  the  good 
people  of  Fredericksburg  gave  me  a  beautiful  sword, 
and  the  lovely  Virginia  girls  carved  my  chicken  for  me 
at  dinner  and  were  good  to  me  generally. 

The  Mexican  War  was  a  fine  experience  for  our 
troops.  It  was  actively  pressed,  by  Taylor  and  Scott, 
from  May,  1846,  to  September,  1847,  and  was  a  series  of 
victories  without  check,  until  the  capital  was  captured 
and  peace  was  made.  From  first  to  last,  we  had  100,000 
men  enrolled  in  our  armies,  but  at  no  time  were  over 
14,000  engaged  in  any  battle.  After  the  siege  of  Vera 
Cruz,  Scott's  army  was  much  reduced  by  the  expiration 
of  the  terms  of  service  of  the  volunteers,  so  that  he  en 
tered  the  great  valley  of  Mexico  with  only  9000  men, 
and  received  no  reinforcements  until  after  the  city  was 
taken.  By  the  terms  of  the  treaty  of  peace,  we  received 
from  Mexico  the  vast  territory  embraced  in  California, 
New  Mexico,  and  Arizona,  and  a  full  surrender  of  the 
disputed  territory  of  Texas,  which  lies  between  the  Rio 
Grande  and  the  Nueces.  In  a  spirit  of  fairness  unusual  in 
conquered  nations,  we  gave  Mexico  $10,000,000  as  con 
science  money.  Some  years  ago  when  Mr.  Hayes  was 
preparing  to  invade  Mexico,  the  newspapers  of  that 
country  admonished  us  that  we  had  to  pay  Mexico 
$10,000,000  to  stop  the  last  war,  and  we  had  better  be 
careful  how  we  again  aroused  their  wrath. 

So  long  a  period  had  elapsed  since  our  last  war  with 
Great  Britain  that  a  whole  generation  had  passed  away, 
and  few  of  our  people  had  ever  seen  a  wounded  soldier, 
and  much  interest  and  kindness  were  shown  to  such  as 


46  RECOLLECTIONS 


reached  home.  While  on  my  homeward  journey,  I  was 
detained  a  day  in  Louisville.  I  was  at  the  Gait  House, 
and  had  occasion  to  go  to  a  dry-goods  store  near  by  for 
a  silk  handkerchief  for  my  broken  arm.  I  was  followed 
and  overtaken  by  a  kind-hearted  Kentuckian,  who  with 
much  interest  asked,  "  Is  it  true  that  you  were  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo?  " 

"  Yes." 

"Well,  sir,  do  you  ever  drink  anything?" 

"Yes." 

"Well,  come,  please,  and  take  a  drink  with  me."  He 
conducted  me  into  the  bar-room  of  the  Gait  House  and 
said  to  the  bar-keeper,  "  Let  him  have  the  best  you  have 
in  the  house,  no  matter  what  it  costs."  This  was  but  a 
faint  indication  of  what  was  in  store  for  the  wounded 
officers  homeward  bound. 

A  rumor  of  my  death  had  preceded  me,  and  there 
was  great  apprehension  among  my  friends  lest  my  mother 
should  hear  it  before  better  tidings  came.  Fortunately, 
she  was  spared  this  pain,  for  I  was  her  only  child  and  she 
was  a  widow.  The  doctors  thought  the  White  Sulphur  a  fine 
place  for  a  young  soldier  with  a  wounded  arm,  and  there 
we  went  for  the  season  and  were  very  happy  together. 

One  day  a  party  of  us  were  playing  whist  in  the  bache 
lors'  quarters  in  Fredericksburg.  It  was  very  warm  and 
we  had  laid  aside  our  coats,  when  in  walked  a  committee 
of  the  citizens  of  Fredericksburg  appointed  to  present  me 
a  handsome  sword.  Captain  William  Lewis  Herndon, 
afterwards  the  hero  of  the  Central  America,  was  of  the 
party.  The  sword  was  presented  with  an  appropriate 
speech,  and  finding  myself  quite  unequal  to  reply  to  it, 
I  invited  the  committee  to  be  seated  while  I  composed 
a  note  of  appreciation  and  gratitude.  This,  with  the 
assistance  of  Lewis  Herndon,  was  happily  accomplished. 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  47 


There  was  no  railroad  to  the  White  Sulphur  in  those 
days,  but  it  was,  nevertheless,  the  favorite  summer  resort 
with  the  best  class  of  Southern  people.  The  long  journeys 
over  bad  roads  made  four-in-hand  teams  a  necessity,  as 
were  baggage-wagons  and  a  retinue  of  servants  and  saddle 
horses.  Judges  Brooke,  Brokenborough,  and  Robinson, 
Jerome  Bonaparte,  of  Baltimore,  and  his  brilliant  wife, 
General  Wade  Hampton,  Colonel  Singleton,  of  South 
Carolina,  and  Dick  Taylor  formed  the  usual  coterie  every 
summer.  The  Hamptons  and  Singletons  built  their  own 
spacious  summer  residences.  There  were  many  com 
plaints  of  the  fare,  which  was  considered  poor  and  insuffi 
cient,  but  the  dignified  proprietor,  Mr.  Caldwell,  consoled 
his  guests  by  assuring  them  they  paid  nothing  for  their 
dinners,  but  only  for  the  wonderful  sulphur  water  which 
he  had  discovered  about  the  beginning  of  the  century. 
During  the  height  of  the  season  one  day  the  crowded 
dining-room  was  appalled  by  a  loud  cry  of  "  Murder  !  " 
Steward  and  servants  rushed  to  the  victim,  who  assured 
them  he  could  get  nothing  to  eat  and  was  dying  of  star 
vation.  That  young  man  was  served  well  and  promptly 
ever  after. 

Writing  of  the  White  Sulphur,  I  am  reminded  of  the 
Ashby  brothers.  Turner  Ashby  was  one  of  the  most 
loved  of  the  devoted  men  of  Virginia.  He  came  of  a 
family  famed  for  their  expertness  in  all  manly  exercises. 
They  were  the  famed  horsemen  of  the  country.  Their 
birthplace  and  home  was  in  that  Piedmont  region  which 
had  been  noted  for  generations  of  bold  riders,  and  which 
was  for  four  years  the  battle-field  of  the  great  armies  of 
the  South  and  North.  Turner  Ashby  and  his  younger 
brother  Dick  were  the  pride  of  all  that  hard-riding 
countryside.  They  were  devoted  to  each  other  and 
beloved  by  all.  Turner  was  not  tall,  but  was  powerful 


48  RECOLLECTIONS 

and  active.  He  was  swarthy  as  a  Spaniard,  with  a  gentle, 
modest  bearing  and  as  brave  a  heart  as  ever  beat.  Men 
and  women  alike  trusted  and  respected  him.  One  day 
a  great  mountaineer,  such  as  are  commonly  to  be  found 
in  that  region  of  Virginia,  came  into  the  railroad  store 
under  his  charge  and  began  to  bully  the  youthful  clerk, 
charging  him  with  being  dishonest.  Turner  Ashby  had 
come  to  the  boy's  aid  when  he  heard  the  wanton  insult, 
and  in  a  moment  leaped  across  the  counter,  knocked 
the  bully  down,  and  administered  such  a  thrashing  as  he 
had  never  before  experienced. 

The  whole  of  the  family  connection  were  manly  in 
their  traits,  and  the  women  shared  their  pride.  The 
boys  had  a  sister,  Dora.  I  well  remember  her  as  a 
belle  of  the  White  Sulphur.  Tall,  with  flashing  black 
eyes  and  gleaming  ivory  teeth,  she  was  superb,  resem 
bling  greatly  that  charming  young  Virginia  matron,  who 
is  still  remembered  and  loved  in  Richmond  as  Emma 
Gray,  now  Emma  White  of  Newport.  One  day  Dora 
Ashby  was  driving  with  young  Herndon,  —  youngest 
brother  of  Captain  William  Lewis  Herndon,  —  when 
they  heard  closing  up  behind  them  a  clamorous  uproar 
from  a  four-horse  drag.  The  young  fellows  in  it  were 
all  cousins  or  other  kinsmen  of  Dora's,  and  demanded 
that  she  should  give  them  the  road.  Their  horses  were 
almost  running;  Herndon  put  his  own  to  their  fastest 
trot  and  kept  his  place.  Finally  the  drag  pushed  them 
hard  and  was  about  to  pass  them,  when  Herndon  said, 
"Miss  Dora,  shall  I  give  way  to  the  boys?" 

"  If  you  do,"  she  replied,  "  I  will  never  ride  with  you 
again  !  "  So  Herndon  plied  the  whip,  and  the  pursuers 
and  pursued  came  tearing  through  the  woods,  the 
buggy  still  leading,  and  the  beautiful  girl  radiant  with 
triumph.  But,  alas,  the  young  rascals  suddenly  came  to 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  49 


a  cut-off,  and,  whirling  into  it,  reached  the  hotel  a  length 
or  two  ahead  and  won  the  race. 

I  used  to  meet  the  Ashbys  in  the  summer  at  the  White 
Sulphur.  Every  summer  there  were  tournaments,  at 
which  good  horses  and  good  horsemen  showed  their 
power  and  skill.  The  Ashbys  and  the  Greenes  of  Rap- 
pahannock  and  Stafford,  their  near  kin,  were  always 
active  in  these.  Turner  Ashby  used  to  ride  his  thorough 
bred  stallion  at  the  ring  without  either  saddle  or  bridle, 
and  carried  it,  too  !  It  was  said  the  young  fellows  of  Rap- 
pahannock  would  not  let  him  enter  for  the  prize  unless 
he  rode  without  saddle  and  bridle.  Dick  Ashby  was  one 
of  the  handsomest  and  most  winsome  men  I  ever  knew. 
He  was  six  feet  in  his  stockings,  straight  as  an  Indian, 
handsome  and  gentle,  and  brave  as  the  bravest.  He 
entered  the  war  as  a  captain  in  the  cavalry  regiment  his 
brother  Turner  had  raised  and  commanded.  One  of  the 
earliest  engagements  of  this  command  was  a  scouting 
affair  upon  the  Potomac  near  Romney,  in  which  Dick 
Ashby  was  killed  while  acting  with  heroic  courage.  His 
brother  Turner  came  too  late  to  rescue  him,  but  found 
him  lying  where  he  had  fallen.  His  body  had  been 
brutally  mutilated.  From  that  hour  Turner  Ashby  was 
a  changed  man.  A  stern  sorrow  became  his  controlling 
motive,  a  deep  purpose  of  vengeance  possessed  him,  all 
his  buoyancy  and  bright  hopes  of  fame  gave  place  to 
grief,  and  his  brief  and  glorious  career  closed  when 
Jackson  defeated  Banks  and  Fremont  upon  the  same 
day.  Ashby  had  dismounted  his  command,  and  sent 
his  beautiful  white  stallion  to  the  rear,  and  drawing 
his  sword  commanded  the  charge,  when  he  fell  dead,  a 
bullet  piercing  his  noble  heart.  Such  were  the  Ashbys  in 
peace  and  war !  They  were  all  gathered  at  my  wedding; 
they  are  all  gone  now,  Their  first  cousin,  brave  Wil- 


50  RECOLLECTIONS 


Ham  Greene,  colonel  of  the  Forty-seventh  Virginia,  fell 
at  Gaines  Mill,  dying  as  his  cousin  Turner  had  died  only 
a  few  months  before. 

I  was  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  daily  association 
with  the  charming  society  gathered  at  the  White  Sul 
phur,  when  orders  came  for  me  to  report  for  duty  at 
West  Point.  I  was  much  disappointed,  for  my  stay  there 
as  a  cadet  had  not  been  a  happy  one,  and  I  had  no  desire 
to  return  to  the  Academy;  but  on  arriving  there  I  was 
persuaded  to  remain  and  try  the  new  duties  and  rela 
tions  of  an  officer  and  professor.  There  were  already 
some  nice  young  fellows  there,  and  presently  there  came 
from  Mexico,  McClellan,  Franklin,  Ruddy  Clarke,  Baldy 
Smith,  G.  W.  Smith,  Kirby  Smith,  and  several  others 
who  had  washed  off  the  starch  of  the  Academy  in  two 
years  of  war  service,  and  thenceforth  we  had  a  very 
agreeable  sojourn  together.  Our  duties  were  congen 
ial,  and  we  had  an  excellent  mess.  The  arrival  of  an 
old  comrade  of  the  war,  or  of  a  foreign  officer,  was  enough 
to  start  the  champagne  corks  popping;  but  we  were  not 
convivial  alone  in  our  pleasures,  for  we  had  several 
clubs  where  we  resumed  our  riding  and  fencing  and 
Spanish.  We  had  a  Shakespeare  club,  and  a  chess  club, 
of  which  Professor  Agnell  was  president;  but  best  of  all 
was  the  Napoleon  Club.  Professor  Mahan  was  president 
of  this,  and  gave  out  the  Napoleon  campaigns  to  be 
discussed  by  each  member.  Six  weeks'  time  was  allowed 
to  prepare  the  paper.  We  had  ample  authorities,  both 
French  and  English,  at  our  disposal  in  the  library,  and 
worked  diligently  on  our  papers.  The  campaign  of 
Waterloo,  by  Lieutenant  B.  S.  Alexander,  was  considered 
one  of  the  best  discussions  ever  made  of  that  notable 
defeat  of  Bonaparte.  The  campaign  of  Russia,  by 
G.  W.  Smith,  and  of  Wagram,  by  McClellan,  showed 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  51 


marked  ability.  I  believe  something  of  this  sort  has 
been  introduced  into  the  course  of  study  for  the  cadets. 

In  this  way  we  spent  four  years  very  profitably  and 
happily  at  the  Academy.  Remembering  how  keenly  I 
had  felt  the  restrictions  and  surveillance  of  cadet  life,  I 
determined  to  spare  those  who  fell  under  my  charge  as 
much  as  possible.  One  night  while  officer  in  charge,  I 
came  upon  a  young  cadet  asleep  upon  his  post.  He 
had  leaned  his  musket  against  the  stair  rail,  and  was  fast 
asleep.  I  knew  it  meant  severe  punishment  for  him, 
and  he  was  such  a  delicate-looking  lad  my  sympathies 
were  aroused,  so  I  wakened  him.  He  was  greatly 
alarmed.  I  said  to  him:  "If  I  report  this,  you  will 
probably  be  sent  away  from  here  in  disgrace,  your 
family  will  be  mortified,  and  you  will  be  seriously  in 
jured  by  it.  If  you  will  promise  me  never  to  allow  it 
to  happen  again,  I  will  take  no  further  notice  of  it." 
Some  years  ago  a  well-known  member  of  Congress 
invited  me  to  dine  with  him,  and  at  the  table  told  of 
this  experience  with  me  at  West  Point.  I  had  often 
vainly  tried  to  recall  the  boy  and  his  history,  and  now 
for  the  first  time  learned  both. 

Professor  Dennis  Mahan  was  one  of  the  ablest  of  the 
faculty  at  West  Point.  He  was  a  native  of  Norfolk, 
Virginia,  and  had  not  received  a  classical  education. 
He  told  me  he  was  so  impressed  by  the  disadvantage 
of  not  having  studied  Latin  and  Greek,  that  he  had 
acquired  them  by  hard  work  after  he  became  a  professor 
at  West  Point.  His  was  considered  a  hard  nature  by  the 
cadets,  and  he  was  given  to  saying  sarcastic  things  in  the 
section  room ;  but  I  had  reason  to  observe  that  he  was 
grateful  for  benefits  bestowed  upon  him,  and  capable  of 
much  real  kindness.  On  one  occasion,  when  a  cadet, 
he  made  me  the  victim  of  his  sarcasm.  While  reciting 


52  RECOLLECTIONS 


upon  the  construction  of  fortifications,  he  asked  me, 
"  Mr.  Maury,  what  is  the  height  of  the  breast- height 
slope?" 

"  Five  feet,  sir,"  I  replied. 

With  that  cold  manner  with  which  he  used  to  express 
his  contempt  for  an  ignorant  cadet,  he  said,  "  If  it  were 
five  feet,  Mr.  Maury,  you  could  not  shoot  over  it!" 
As  I  was  only  five  feet  three  inches,  at  that  time,  this 
personal  allusion  was  received  with  a  suppressed  giggle 
by  my  classmates,  and  for  a  long  time  I  remembered  it 
against  him.  Years  afterward,  he  made  up  for  it  one 
night  in  the  Napoleon  Club,  of  which,  as  I  have  said,  he 
was  president.  He  came  cordially  up  to  me  after  I  had 
finished  reading  my  paper  on  the  Italian  campaign  of 
1 796,  grasped  my  hand  with  real  pleasure,  and  said : 
"  I  congratulate  you,  Maury.  You  have  discussed  your 
subject  in  the  very  spirit  of  that  Italian  campaign."  I 
could  name  many  other  things  about  him  highly  credit 
able  to  his  warm  and  generous  heart.  Some  time  after 
the  Civil  War,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  he  lost  his 
life  by  falling  from  a  steamboat  on  the  Hudson  River. 

As  I  recall  these  memories  of  my  long  life,  it  seems 
to  me  people  were  always  glad  when  I  did  anything 
clever,  with  a  sort  of  surprised  gladness,  as  if  they  had 
never  thought  I  could  do  it.  To  tell  the  truth,  I  was 
always  surprised  myself,  and  delighted  in  receiving  praise, 
as  I  winced  under  censure  and  that  carping  criticism 
which  is  the  refuge  and  habit  of  weak  and  ignorant 
natures.  Fault-finding  is  the  bane  of  discipline,  while 
just  praise  is  the  very  life  and  object  of  high  endeavor. 
A  true  soldier  strives  and  lives  to  win  it.  A  martinet 
is  an  unhappy,  worthless  creature,  wretched  and  mis 
chievous,  too.  The  only  consolation  is  that  he  is  more 
unhappy  than  he  makes  other  people. 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  58 


While  the  hills  and  swamps  about  West  Point  were  fairly 
good  shooting-ground  for  ruffled  grouse  (pheasants  in 
Virginia,  partridges  in  New  York  and  Pennsylvania)  and 
woodcock,  all  of  the  little  mountain  streams  thereabouts 
had  trout  in  them.  One  day,  Fitz  John  Porter,  McClellan, 
and  I  hired  a  boat  to  go  a-fishing  for  perch  on  the 
Hudson.  We  lay  at  the  mouth  of  a  creek  which  emptied 
into  the  river  a  little  more  than  a  mile  below  the  Point. 
Finding  no  perch,  I  sauntered  up  the  creek,  searching 
for  trout.  In  a  little  over  an  hour  I  returned  to  my  still 
unsuccessful  companions  with  a  good  creel  full  of  trout ; 
there  were  over  thirty  in  all,  and  several  were  over  a  foot 
long.  A  great  sportsman  named  Warren,  brother  of 
General  Warren,  told  me  he  took  over  a  hundred 
out  of  that  little  stream  one  day.  I  met  him  once 
coming  out  of  a  woodcock  swamp  with  thirty  birds  in 
his  bag.  He  advised  me  not  to  go  in,  as  he  had  bagged 
them  all ;  but  having  nowhere  else  to  go,  I  went  in,  and 
got  eleven  more.  It  was  summer,  and  the  birds  were 
breeding.  I  saw  a  group  of  five,  not  yet  feathered.  The 
law  should  protect  the  summer  birds. 

Every  winter  we  had  several  weeks  of  good  sleighing. 
One  day  a  party  of  us  drove  up  to  Newburg.  While 
resting  our  horses  there,  and  sipping  something  season 
able,  one  of  us  read  aloud  a  funny  trick  of  the  famous 
wizard,  Herr  Alexander,  and  we  unanimously  resolved  to 
play  it  off  on  Ruddy  Clarke,  who  was  always  as  ready 
to  be  the  victim  of  a  sell  as  we  were  to  practise  it  upon 
him.  At  that  time,  Franklin  and  Ruddy  Clarke  occupied 
a  tower  room  in  the  new  barracks,  with  a  chamber  behind 
it,  and  it  was  our  habit  to  adjourn  over  there  for  social 
enjoyment.  Besides  Ruddy  and  Franklin,  were  usually 
John  M.  Jones,  Pull  Hawes,  Frank  Clarke  and  Mac 
and  I.  So,  after  dinner,  on  our  return  from  Newburg, 


54  RECOLLECTIONS 

I  told  Ruddy  that  I  would  bet  him  a  bottle  of  champagne 
that  he  might  go  into  the  other  room,  shut  the  door,  and 
assume  any  position  he  chose,  and  I  would  tell,  from  our 
room,  what  his  position  was.  After  much  doubting  and 
questioning,  he  finally  went  into  the  darkened  room, 
struck  an  attitude,  and  called  out,  "  What  position  am 
I  in?" 

I  replied,  "In  the  position  of  a  great  ass."  He 
looked  it  when  he  came  out,  amidst  our  laughter,  into 
the  light.  We  induced  him,  by  adroit  investigation,  to 
describe  to  us  his  exact  attitude.  It  was  truly  absurd 
for  a  professor. 

We  had  a  very  jovial  and  humorous  set  of  young 
officers  stationed  at  the  Academy  for  several  years  after 
the  Mexican  War,  and  great  kindness  of  feeling  prevailed. 
We  played  whist,  dime  points,  and  faro,  and  brag  at  the 
same  moderate  rate.  It  was  noted  that  at  faro  we  almost 
invariably  broke  the  bank.  One  winter  I  was  laid  up 
for  many  weeks  by  an  injury  to  my  leg,  received  while 
riding,  and  my  room,  during  all  that  time,  was  the 
gathering  place  after  dinner.  The  card  table  was  drawn 
up  to  my  bed,  and  I  played  my  hand  till  tired  and  sleepy. 
One  night  we  were  playing  brag,  and  I  becoming  tired 
and  drowsy,  little  Frank  Clarke  said  he  would  play  my 
hand  for  me  while  I  slept.  When  I  awoke,  next  morn: 
ing,  I  found  the  greatest  amount  I  had  ever  won  at  cards 
under  my  pillow.  I  reflected  that  it  was  a  demoralizing 
amusement ;  that  avarice,  the  basest  of  human  passions, 
was  its  moving  impulse ;  that  often,  at  the  card  table,  I 
observed  some  show  of  feeling  that  left  an  unpleasant 
remembrance  against  a  comrade,  and  that  none  of  us 
could  afford  to  win  or  lose  even  a  few  dollars ;  so  I 
ceased  all  play  for  money,  and  have  been  glad  of  it  ever 
since. 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  55 


During  my  stay  at  West  Point  as  an  instructor,  Baldy 
Smith  and  I  were  room-mates,  and  occupied  a  cottage 
overlooking  Kosciusko's  Gardens.  We  were  popular  as 
"  Subs,"  and  our  pupils  used  to  manifest  their  apprecia 
tion  of  our  efforts  in  their  behalf  by  paying  us  long  and 
frequent  visits.  Our  sensations  during  these  well-meant 
and  oft-repeated  calls  may  be  best  described  in  the 
language  of  a  witty  Frenchman  who  was  invited  to  make 
a  cruise  on  a  man-of-war,  and  afterwards  wrote  of  his 
experiences  there.  He  said  :  "  Sometimes  I  would  dine 
with  the  captain  in  his  cabin,  sometimes  with  lieutenants 
in  the  wardroom,  and  sometimes  with  midshipmen  in 
the  steerage ;  and  my  recollections  of  the  conversations 
of  those  midshipmen  make  my  blood  run  cold  to  this 
day ! " 

No  one  seemed  to  have  discovered  the  opportunities 
for  good  shooting,  until  I  came  along  with  my  setters 
and  pointers.  These  dogs  were  a  great  comfort  to  me 
and  to  my  pupils ;  for  they  always  accompanied  me  on 
my  inspections,  going  before  me,  and  giving  due  notice 
of  my  approach,  and  they  were  cherished  accordingly  by 
the  cadets. 

Captain  Alden,  Robert  Coleman,  Fitz  John  Porter,  and 
I  made  several  shooting  excursions  over  the  mountains 
into  Orange  County,  where  the  Warwick  Woodlands, 
famed  by  Frank  Forrester,  gave  us  fine  sport.  We  took 
up  our  quarters  with  a  plain  farmer  upon  the  turnpike, 
named  Dickerman,  who  made  us  comfortable.  He  had 
a  very  handsome  and  cultivated  daughter,  who  was  not 
only  the  maid  of  all  work,  but  who  in  the  evenings,  after 
our  day's  hunt  was  over,  would  entertain  us  in  the  parlor. 
She  was  an  excellent  musician,  and  an  expert  in  the  art 
of  greasing  and  polishing  our  hunting-boots  after  hard 
day's  tramp  through  the  mud. 


56  RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    VIRGINIAN 

Sometimes  Porter  and  I  would  ride  over  to  the  home 
of  Mr.  Peter  Townsend,  and  spend  the  night,  returning 
next  morning  in  time  for  our  day's  work.  Mr.  Townsend 
was  a  most  agreeable  country  gentleman  of  New  York, 
and  had  a  vast  establishment  in  Orange  County.  His 
wife  and  three  daughters  made  up  his  household,  and  a 
charming  family  it  was.  Mrs.  Townsend  was  very  dig 
nified  and  attractive,  and  her  daughters  were  all  bright, 
cordial,  and  handsome,  and  were  great  favorites  with 
the  young  officers  at  West  Point.  One  of  them  married 
General  Meagher,  the  gallant  commander  of  the  most 
distinguished  Federal  brigade  in  the  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg,  that  Irish  brigade  which  charged,  and  charged 
again,  Lee's  line  at  Marye's  Hill,  until  eye-witnesses  have 
told  me  that  they  could  walk  along  its  whole  front,  and 
step  every  step  upon  the  bodies  of  its  dead.  After 
their  final  repulse,  a  young  soldier  named  Kirkland,  a 
private  in  a  South  Carolina  regiment,  having  obtained 
permission  of  his  colonel,  climbed  over  the  famous  stone 
wall,  and,  under  heavy  fire,  went  out  upon  the  field, 
bearing  canteens  of  water  to  the  wounded,  to  all  of  which 
he  ministered.  Unhappily  for  his  country,  he  did  not 
survive  the  war;  we  cannot  afford  to  lose  the  breed 
of  such  men.  Another  of  Mr.  Townsend's  daughters 
married  General  Barlow  of  New  York,  a  warm  personal 
friend  of  General  Dick  Taylor,  and  a  well-known  gentle 
man  of  New  York.  I  was  the  recipient  of  much  graceful 
hospitality  from  Mr.  Townsend's  charming  household,  and 
time  has  not  dimmed  my  remembrance  of  the  many  de 
lightful  hours  for  which  I  was  their  debtor. 


CHAPTER  V 

The  Rifles  ordered  to  Oregon  —  Captain  Stuart's  Tragic  Fate  —  Remi 
niscences  of  McClellan— His  Capacity  and  Character  illustrated  — 
His  Comments  upon  Foreign  Campaigns  —  His  Popularity  with  his 
Troops— A  Criticism  of  the  Crimean  War  —  McClellan  and  Grant 
contrasted  —  Generals  Franklin,  Hancock,  and  Meade  —  Young 
Jerome  Bonaparte 

MONO  ray  friends  of  those  far-away  days  was 
Captain  Stuart,  who  was  the  son  of  an  able 
editor  of  the  Charleston  Mercury,  and  was 
a  great-nephew  of  Sir  John  Stuart,  who  won 
the  battle  of  Maida  and  who  at  his  death  was  the  nearest 
survivor  of  the  royal  family  of  Stuart.  He  served  with 
me  in  the  Mounted  Rifles,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
interesting  characters  I  have  ever  known.  Handsome, 
and  gentle  as  a  woman,  no  soldier  of  our  army  surpassed 
him  in  courage  and  daring,  and  after  two  years  of  active 
service  the  commanding  general  said  in  his  report  of  the 
last  battle  of  the  Mexican  War,  "Lieutenant  Stuart  of 
the  Rifles,  leaping  the  ditch,  was  the  first  American  to 
enter  the  city  of  Mexico." 

When  the  Mexican  War  was  ended,  and  after  I  was 
ordered  to  West  Point,  our  regiment  made  ready  for  ser 
vice  in  Oregon,  marched  across  the  great  plains,  and 
occupied  for  the  ensuing  four  years  that  wild  and  un 
known  region  where  there  were  then  only  a  few  venture 
some  people  of  the  American  and  British  fur- trading 
companies.  At  the  end  of  its  term  of  service,  the  Rifles 

57 


58  RECOLLECTIONS 


were  destined  for  the  frontier  of  Texas,  while  the  First 
Dragoons  and  other  troops  took  their  place  in  Oregon. 
The  officers  and  non-commissioned  officers  were  sent  by 
sea  back  to  the  States,  while  our  horses  and  the  private 
soldiers,  of  whom  not  many  remained,  were  transferred 
to  the  dragoons.  Captain  Phil  Kearney,  afterwards  Gen 
eral  Phil  Kearney,  who  fell  in  the  disastrous  defeat  of 
General  Pope  at  Manassas,  was  selected  to  conduct  the 
transfer  of  our  horses,  etc.,  and  to  aid  him  in  this  work 
he  chose  Captain  John  G.  Walker  and  James  Stuart.  If 
there  was  any  officer  in  our  regiment  equal  to  Stuart  in 
conduct,  it  was  Walker,  and  the  two  were  close  friends. 

This  interesting  march  seemed  an  indulgence  and  a  trip 
of  pleasure.  The  weather  was  fine,  there  seemed  noth 
ing  likely  to  disturb  them  on  the  route,  and  their  service 
being  ended  when  California  was  reached,  they,  Stuart 
and  Walker  together,  would  return  to  their  homes  in  the 
States,  where  Jamie  hoped  to  find  the  lady  of  his  love 
awaiting  him.  Their  road  to  California  lay  through 
the  country  of  the  Rogue  River  Indians,  but  they  were 
not  known  to  be  hostile,  and  every  prospect  seemed 
pleasant  to  these  two  comrades.  The  worst  of  their 
journey  was  over,  when  one  night  Walker  was  aroused 
by  Stuart,  who  shared  his  tent.  It  was  after  midnight, 
and  Stuart  said  he  had  not  been  able  to  sleep  at  all  be 
cause  of  a  conviction  that  his  death  was  at  hand.  He 
could  not  rid  himself  of  the  feeling,  and  he  wished 
Walker  to  see  to  it  that  the  wishes  he  now  desired  to 
impart  would  be  carried  out. 

In  vain  Walker  tried  first  to  laugh  away  all  this  as  a 
sort  of  nightmare.  Stuart  agreed  that  it  might  be  so, 
but  he  urged  his  friend  to  listen  and  to  promise  him  to 
be  the  executor  of  his  last  request,  to  which  Walker  at 
last  assented,  little  suspecting  the  catastrophe  hanging 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  59 


over  them.  The  next  day's  march  justified  Stuart's 
anxieties;  for  they  found  that  the  Rogue  River  Indians 
had  begun  hostilities,  and  came  upon  the  trail  of  a  large 
Indian  war  party,  and  preparations  were  immediately 
made  to  follow  it  and  punish  the  hostiles.  At  their 
breakfast  next  morning,  Stuart  told  of  a  vivid  dream 
which  had  troubled  him,  —  how  an  Indian  warrior  ap 
peared  at  the  door  of  the  tent,  drew  his  bow  upon 
Walker  first,  and  then  changing  his  aim  to  Stuart,  shot 
him  through  the  body. 

Kearney  divided  his  command  for  the  march  and 
fight  that  day  into  two  bodies,  sending  Stuart  with  his 
party  down  the  river  on  the  opposite  side,  where  they 
came  up  with  the  enemy,  charged,  and  scattered  them. 
The  chief  seemed  to  surrender  to  Stuart,  who  ordered 
him  to  drop  his  bow,  and  to  emphasize  the  order  tapped 
him  upon  his  head.  Instantly  the  chief  drove  an  arrow 
through  Stuart's  body.  He  lived  a  few  hours  in  great 
agony;  his  grave  was  made  under  a  tree  at  the  forks  of 
the  road,  and  carefully  marked. 

George  B.  McClellan,  to  whose  cadet  days  I  have 
already  briefly  referred,  came  to  West  Point  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  years  and  seven  months.  He  bore  every  evi 
dence  of  gentle  nature  and  high  culture,  and  his  counte 
nance  was  as  charming  as  his  demeanor  was  modest 
and  winning.  His  father,  the  celebrated  Dr.  McClellan, 
and  his  elder  brother,  Dr.  John  McClellan,  were  two 
of  the  ablest  and  best-educated  men  of  their  day,  and 
he  had  been  reared  in  their  presence.  I  remember  that 
it  was  about  the  middle  of  June,  1842,  when  we  first 
met  in  the  section  room  at  West  Point.  The  class  was 
at  first  arranged  according  to  alphabetical  order,  and 
our  initial  letters  placed  us  for  a  brief  space  side  by 
side.  For  a  very  brief  space  it  was,  for  he  pushed  at 


60  RECOLLECTIONS 


once  to  the  head,  while  I  plodded  along  in  the  middle 
—  that  easiest  and  safest  of  positions  —  through  all  the 
long  four  years  of  my  cadetship.  At  the  end,  Mac  went 
into  the  Engineer  Corps,  and  I,  as  I  have  said,  into  the 
Rifles.  After  the  Mexican  War,  while  we  were  both  at 
West  Point  as  instructors,  we  were,  of  course,  daily 
associated  together  for  several  years,  and  a  happy  asso 
ciation  it  was.  A  brighter,  kindlier,  more  genial  gen 
tleman  did  not  live  than  he.  Sharing  freely  in  all  the 
convivial  hospitality  of  the  mess,  he  was  a  constant 
student  of  his  profession.  Having  been  instructed  in 
the  Classics  and  in  French  before  he  came  to  the  Acad 
emy,  he  learned  Spanish  and  German  there,  and  before 
he  was  sent  to  Europe  to  study  and  report  upon  the 
cavalry  service  of  the  great  military  powers  of  the  world, 
he  had  acquired  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  Russian  lan 
guage  to  enable  him  to  make  a  satisfactory  and  valuable 
report.  The  excellent  saddles  and  horse  equipage  ever 
since  used  in  our  service  were  introduced  by  him  from 
the  Cossacks.  He  was  an  excellent  horseman,  and  one 
of  our  most  athletic  and  best  swordsmen.  We  rode 
and  fenced  together  almost  daily.  His  father  gave  him 
a  handsome  thoroughbred  mare,  and  I  had  brought  from 
Virginia  a  very  fleet  race  mare.  So  long  as  my  arm  was 
in  splints,  she  ran  away  with  me  whenever  I  rode  her. 
Nobody  else  would  ride  her;  but  she  threw  me  only 
twice  in  the  four  years,  once  by  carrying  me  under  a 
limb  which  swept  me  off  over  her  tail,  and  again  when 
she  reared  and  fell  over  on  me,  which  didn't  hurt  me, 
while  it  gave  great  amusement  to  the  crowded  company 
of  passengers  on  the  steamer  New  World,  before  whom 
I  had  tried  to  "  show  off "  as  I  galloped  down  to  the 
wharf  on  my  beautiful  thoroughbred  mare,  arrayed  in  my 
best  suit  of  cavalry  clothes. 


OP   A   VIRGINIAN  61 


Mac  and  Mac's  mare  had  no  such  foolishness  about 
them.  One  bright,  but  bitter  cold  Christmas  Day,  he 
and  I  decided  to  escape  the  wassail  of  the  Academy  by 
riding  over  the  mountains  to  Newburg.  A  heavy  snow 
covered  the  ground,  and  the  road  was  so  slippery  we 
had  to  lead  our  horses  part  of  the  way.  About  n  A.M. 
we  reached  a  little  country  church  where  Christmas 
services  were  being  held.  A  number  of  handsome 
sleighs  about  the  door  bespoke  a  congregation  of  the 
gentlefolks  of  the  county,  and  we  decided  to  enter  and 
join  in  the  service.  Over  our  uniforms  we  wore  the 
heavy  blue  overcoats  of  the  cavalry  soldier.  There  were 
but  few  people  in  the  church,  so  we  modestly  took  our 
places  in  one  of  the  many  empty  pews  upon  a  side 
aisle.  The  service  was  progressing  when  the  sexton, 
evidently  indignant  that  private  soldiers  should  intrude 
themselves  into  such  a  company  as  his  congregation, 
marched  us  out  of  our  position  and  back  into  one  of  the 
pauper  pews  of  the  church.  We  noticed  that  the  rector 
paused  on  seeing  this  blunder  on  the  part  of  his  subor 
dinate,  and  afterwards  we  were  told  how  annoyed  he  had 
been  by  it.  To  us  it  was  only  a  funny  incident  of  a 
cold  tramp. 

We  got  back  just  at  dusk,  as  the  mess  were  sitting 
down  to  a  rich  Christmas  dinner.  We  had  seen  noth 
ing  to  eat  or  drink,  save  a  glass  of  something  hot  at 
Newburg.  Had  that  aristocratic  congregation  known  it 
was  the  future  general  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  who 
was  with  them  in  their  Christmas  service,  we  might  not 
have  been  so  hungry  and  thirsty  when  we  opened  the 
mess-room  door  and  called,  "  Newel,  give  us  some  cham 
pagne."  Old  George  Thomas  was  then  president  of  the 
mess,  and  a  more  genial  and  kindly  president  we  never 
had.  Everybody  loved  him,  and  he  was  at  that  time 


62  RECOLLECTIONS 


a  Virginian  before  everything  else.  Franklin  and 
Ruddy  Clarke,  Kirby  Smith,  G.  W.  Smith,  Neighbor 
Jones,  John  M.  Jones,  W.  P.  de  Janou,  and  a  score  of 
others  were  round  that  Christmas  board,  and  joined  in 
the  burst  of  welcome  as  we  broke  in.  I  well  remember 
that  it  was  one  of  our  jolliest,  as  it  was  our  last,  Christ 
mas  together;  for  before  the  year  rolled  around,  we  were 
scattered  to  our  distant  posts,  never  to  meet  again. 

McClellan  had  the  happiest  faculty  of  acquiring 
knowledge  I  have  ever  known,  and  unlike  most  men 
who  store  up  learning,  he  knew  well  how  to  use  it  when 
the  occasion  came.  He  would  often  sit  late  with  a 
jovial  party,  and  then  go  to  study  while  we  went  to  bed, 
and  be  up  in  the  morning,  bright  as  the  brightest.  His 
report  of  his  observations  in  his  inspections  of  the  mili 
tary  establishments  of  Europe  was  of  great  value.  He 
was  present  with  the  allied  armies  in  the  Crimea,  and 
had  the  best  opportunities  of  observing  the  relative 
position  of  the  troops  and  their  generals.  He  consid 
ered  Omar  Pasha  the  ablest  of  all  those  generals.  It  is 
well  known  that  when  the  allies  arrived  on  the  field, 
Omar  had  already  driven  every  Russian  across  the  Dan 
ube,  and  left  nothing  for  the  allies  to  do.  But  in  a 
council  of  war  of  the  commanding  generals,  it  was  re 
solved  that  the  eyes  of  Europe  were  upon  them;  that  it 
would  never  do  to  let  that  infidel  dog  have  all  the 
credit;  and  that  they  must  do  something  to  eclipse  the 
glories  of  the  Turk.  They  resolved  upon  the  invasion 
and  occupation  of  the  Crimea.  We  all  remember  how 
sad  and  unfortunate  was  the  conduct  of  the  affair,— 
how  England,  especially,  showed  so  little  aptitude  for 
field  operations  against  well-commanded  and  well- 
organized  European  troops,  that  she  lost  her  prestige; 
and  it  was  said  the  Emperor  Napoleon  had  brought  her 


OF   A  VIRGINIAN  63 


into  that  business,  in  order  that  her  inferiority  as  a  war 
power  might  be  demonstrated  before  the  world. 

Lord  Raglan  sailed  for  the  Crimea  with  about  twenty- 
six  thousand  troops.  The  debarkation  of  his  army  upon 
the  Crimean  coast  occupied  six  days;  and  then  he  was 
several  days'  march  from  Sebastopol,  without  any  trans 
portation  for  his  supplies  or  one  dollar  of  current  money. 
McClellan  had  been  with  Scott  when  he  landed  four 
teen  thousand  Americans  within  three  miles  of  Vera 
Cruz  in  six  hours,  invested  that  city  by  the  morning  of 
the  second  day,  and  captured  it  in  two  weeks'  time. 
McClellan  could  only  find  in  the  splendid  constancy  of 
the  British  troops  in  the  battle  of  Inkerman  a  justifica 
tion  of  their  claim  to  superiority.  In  marking  out  the 
lines  of  attack  upon  Sebastopol,  the  French  took  to 
themselves  the  right  of  the  line,  which,  McClellan  ob 
served,  was  much  more  difficult  to  entrench  than  the  left 
of  the  line,  which  the  English  occupied.  Yet,  upon  the 
signal  for  assault,  when  the  French,  with  MacMahon  at 
their  head,  with  his  cap  upon  his  sword,  swarmed  over 
the  Russian  defences,  the  English,  having  several  hun 
dred  yards  of  open  ground  to  pass  before  reaching  the 
Redan,  were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  until  the  French 
achieved  such  a  position  as  enabled  them  to  break  the 
Russian  defence  and  let  their  allies  into  the  works.  The 
capture  of  the  city  and  works  was  but  a  small  part  of 
what  lay  before  the  allied  army.  The  defences  of  the 
north  side  seemed  unassailable.  McClellan  believed  that 
the  death  of  Nicholas  enabled  his  son,  Alexander,  to 
make  peace  when  the  allies  had  made  their  last  effort,  and 
thus  the  English  army,  under  brave  Sir  Colin  Campbell, 
was  enabled  to  reach  India  in  time  to  save  that  empire. 
The  Sepoy  revolt  is  now  believed  to  have  been  the  result 
of  Russian  machination.  McClellan  thought  so  then. 


64  RECOLLECTIONS 


He  was  in  the  Crimea  when  the  charge  of  the  Light 
Brigade  took  place.  So  also  was  Colonel  Jerome  Bona 
parte.  He  was  captain  of  cavalry  and  aide-de-camp 
to  General  Meurice,  who  commanded  the  French  cavalry 
upon  that  field.  From  McClellan,  from  Bonaparte,  and 
from  the  contemporaneous  newspaper  reports,  we  learned 
of  that  affair,  as  follows.  A  short  time  before  this  date, 
the  allied  cavalry  was  drawn  up  in  column,  probably  of 
squadrons,  watching  a  heavy  demonstration  of  Cossack 
cavalry.  The  British  Heavy  Brigade,  under  the  com 
mand  of  General  Scarlet,  was  in  front  of  the  column; 
next  came  the  Light  Brigade,  Lord  Cardigan;  and 
Lord  Lucan  commanded  the  whole  British  division. 
The  French  cavalry,  also  in  column  of  attack,  was  in 
rear  of  the  British  when  the  Cossacks  charged  the  in 
fantry  line,  a  regiment  of  Scottish  Highlanders,  part 
of  Sir  Colin  Campbell's  command.  The  Highlanders 
poured  a  heavy  fire  from  their  line  of  battle  upon  the 
Cossacks,  which  staggered  and  confused  them.  At  the 
same  instant  Lord  Lucan  ordered  General  Scarlet  to 
"Charge  those  Cossacks  with  the  Heavies,"  which  was 
promptly  and  handsomely  done,  and  the  Russians  were 
driven  away.  Lord  Lucan  was  an  impetuous  com 
mander,  and  in  his  hot  courage  joined  in  the  charge 
and  sword  play  of  the  "Heavies,"  leaving  his  Light 
Brigade  standing  without  orders.  Cardigan  felt  he 
could  not  take  the  responsibility  of  moving  without 
orders,  and  because  the  Light  Brigade  did  not  move, 
the  French  cavalry  behind  it  could  not,  therefore  the 
Cossacks  got  off  with  only  the  punishment  administered 
by  the  "Heavies."  There  was  much  chaffing  of  the 
Light  Brigade  by  their  comrades,  because  of  this  in 
cident.  On  Lord  Raglan's  staff  was  a  clever,  ambitious 
cavalry  major,  Nolan,  who  was  the  apostle  of  the  power 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  65 

of  light  cavalry.  He  had  written  a  very  clever  book 
we  young  officers  used  to  enjoy,  which  proved  that 
light  cavalry  could  deal  with  any  sort  of  troops.  He 
was  greatly  grieved  by  this  lost  opportunity.  A  short 
time  after,  Lord  Raglan  ordered  an  attack  by  all  the 
British  troops,  and  gave  Major  Nolan  the  paragraph 
from  the  order,  saying,  "The  Light  Brigade  will  charge 
and  recapture  the  English  guns."  Some  time  before, 
the  Russians  had  captured  an  English  battery  which  was 
at  this  time  parked  with  some  twenty  other  field-pieces 
in  front  of  where  Lord  Lucan' s  cavalry  was  drawn  up. 
The  story  goes  that  Nolan  galloped  off  delighted,  all  too 
hastily,  and  gave  the  order  to  Lord  Lucan,  who,  looking 
at  the  array  of  cannon  about  a  mile  away,  exclaimed, 
"Charge  what?" 

"That,  "Nolan  replied,  adding  bitterly,  "Shall  I  show 
your  lordship  the  way?"  as  he  took  his  place  at  the 
head  of  the  squadron.  Lord  Lucan,  swearing  no  man 
but  himself  should  lead  his  command,  dashed  past  him 
and  ordered  the  charge  to  be  sounded,  and  away  went 
the  seven  hundred  fine  British  horses  over  the  plain  at  a 
smashing  gallop.  The  Russian  batteries  poured  a  heavy 
fire  into  them,  and  the  Russian  cavalry  and  infantry 
picked  up  such  of  them  as  got  through  the  guns.  Gen 
eral  Meurice  exclaimed:  "That  is  magnificent,  but  that 
is  not  war!  Go,  Bonaparte,  ask  Lord  Lucan  what  it 
means,  and  how  I  can  help  him." 

At  the  same  time  several  French  squadrons  were  de 
ployed,  which  drove  back  the  pursuing  Russians  and 
covered  the  retreating  English.  Bonaparte  found  Lord 
Lucan  in  a  great  rage.  "  Means,  sir !  "  he  said.  "  It 
means  that  my  brigade  is  destroyed,  my  son  is  killed, 
my  nephew  is  killed";  and  as  some  bearers  carried 
Major  Nolan's  body  by,  he  added,  "And  it  is  well  for 


66  RECOLLECTIONS 


that  poor  young  man  he  lies  there,  for  he  would  have  a 
heavy  reckoning  with  me  for  this  day's  work.  But  tell 
him,  by  God,  sir,  I  have  the  written  order  for  it! 
Here's  the  written  order  for  it." 

And  so  ended  this  famous  charge,  the  result  of  a  blun 
der.  Fifty-two  men  and  six  officers  were  killed,  and  the 
usual  proportion  wounded  out  of  about  seven  hundred. 

While  McClellan's  sympathies  were  with  the  Southern 
States,  in  which  were  his  kindred  and  warmest  friends, 
he  never  wavered  in  his  natural  allegiance  to  Pennsyl 
vania.  Several  years  before  the  outbreak  of  the  war, 
and  soon  after  his  return  from  the  Crimea,  he  resigned 
his  captaincy  in  the  army  to  accept  the  presidency  of 
the  Mississippi  Central  Railroad,  and  in  the  winter  of 
1 860-6 1  wrote  me,  then  in  Santa  Fe",  that  while  he 
knew  the  South  was  being  wronged,  and  feared  that 
war  was  inevitable,  he  would  fight,  if  fight  he  must,  for 
Pennsylvania,  his  native  State.  I  could  not  blame  him, 
for  I,  too,  felt  my  paramount  allegiance  to  Virginia.  I 
confess  I  was  surprised  when,  on  my  anxious  and  peril 
ous  journey  home,  I  was  met  upon  the  plains  by  the 
tidings  of  McClellan's  victory  in  West  Virginia,  and 
his  proclamation  terming  us  "Rebels."  But  he  was  a 
high-toned,  humane  gentleman,  and  no  words  or  acts 
of  cruelty  were  ever  attributed  to  him.  After  the  war, 
we  soon  resumed  our  friendly  relations,  which  were  only 
terminated  by  his  untimely  death. 

McClellan  was  no  politician.  He  was  a  gentleman 
and  a  soldier  of  a  very  high  order.  Every  feeling  and 
instinct  of  his  nature  was  averse  to  the  character  and 
war  policy  of  the  administration.  Lincoln  and  Stan- 
ton  required  that  the  army  should  always  be  interposed 
between  them  and  the  Confederate  capital.  McClellan 
in  vain  pointed  out  to  them  that  to  capture  Richmond, 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  67 


the  army  should  operate  from  below  it.  Grant,  three 
years  later,  urged  the  same  base  of  operations,  but  Mr. 
Stanton  replied  that  he  must  attack  from  the  Washing 
ton  side.  Grant  said,  "  If  I  do,  I  shall  lose  one  hundred 
thousand  men."  Stanton  assured  him  he  should  have 
them  to  lose.  And  now  we  know  that  he  did  lose  over 
eighty  thousand  before  he  placed  his  army  where  he 
ultimately  took  Richmond. 

McClellan  possessed  in  a  remarkable  degree  the  con 
fidence  and  love  of  his  troops.  This  was  manifested 
in  an  extraordinary  manner  when  he  came  to  General 
Pope's  routed  army;  it  was  in  utter  disorder.  Generals 
Pope,  McDowell,  and  the  mob  of  defeated  soldiers, 
were  all  crowding  along  the  road  to  Alexandria,  when 
"Little  Mac"  appeared.  At  once  a  change  came  over 
the  soldiers.  They  knew  Pope  was  no  general,  and 
they  had  more  confidence  in  "  Little  Mac  "  than  in  any 
man  alive.  His  assumption  of  command  spread  hope 
and  joy  throughout  their  ranks,  which  at  once  assumed 
shape  and  order,  and  in  a  few  days  McClellan  had  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  in  hand,  and  was  marching  it 
with  precision  and  order  to  hinder  Lee's  invasion  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  army  of  northern  Virginia  encoun 
tered  and  defeated  them,  destroying  three  corps,  and 
crossed  the  Potomac  with  all  the  rich  stores  captured 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  moved  on  to  new  fields  of  glory. 
But  the  Capital  was  saved,  and  McClellan  had  saved  it, 
and  was  then  deposed.  The  army  and  the  people  fol 
lowed  him  with  their  confidence  and  love.  He  ran  for 
the  Presidency  upon  a  platform  that  was  pacific  and  just, 
and  would  have  spared  our  country  the  cruelty  of 
Andrew  Johnson's  reconstruction. 

It  is  difficult  to  compare  McClellan  with  Grant;  both 
men  were  kindly  in  nature,  both  were  brave.  While 


68  RECOLLECTIONS 

McClellan  was  personally  as  brave  as  Grant,  and  of  a 
higher  spirit,  he  seemed  to  lack  that  inflexible  decision 
of  opinion  and  purpose  which  bore  Grant  to  his  great 
fortune.  While  McClellan  would  be,  and  was,  eminent 
amongst  the  highest  characters  and  in  the  greatest  affairs 
of  peace  or  war,  Grant  seemed  suited  only  to  such  a 
terrible  occasion  as  brought  him  from  his  tannery  into 
fame.  But  for  the  war,  he  would  possibly  have  pursued 
to  the  end  of  his  life  his  early  calling. 

Pennsylvania  has  in  every  war  furnished  many  able 
soldiers  to  our  armies,  and  it  has  been  my  good  fortune 
to  know  some  of  them  well,  and  to  retain  their  friend 
ship  until  this  day.  General  William  B.  Franklin  is 
of  the  highest  class  of  Pennsylvania  gentlemen.  Like 
McClellan  and  Hancock,  he  was  well  born  and  educated, 
and  combined  the  versatile  capacity  and  attainments  of 
the  former  with  the  sturdy  character  of  the  latter.  We 
were  both  stationed  at  West  Point  as  instructors,  and 
our  acquaintance  ripened  into  a  friendship  which  in  its 
warmth  and  congeniality  has  often  reminded  me  of  that 
which  united  Warrington  and  Pendennis.  It  has  sur 
vived  through  all  the  chances  and  changes  of  a  lifetime. 
Franklin's  father  was  an  able  clerk  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  by  a  happy  lot  he  married  the 
daughter  of  Matthew  St.  Clair  Clarke,  who  succeeded 
his  father  in  office,  holding  the  position  for  many  years. 
Such  an  illustration  of  congenial  marriage  as  theirs  is 
rarely  seen.  All  these  years  they  have  together  trod 
their  journey,  joying  and  giving  joy  to  the  same  friends, 
having  the  same  memories  and  the  same  firm  faith  in 
their  life  to  come. 

Hancock,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Meade,  who 
came  of  a  Pennsylvania  family,  but  was  born  in  Spain, 
were  high-toned  gentlemen  and  great  commanders.  In 


OF   A    VIRGINIAN  69 


fact,  no  State  in  the  Union  has  produced  so  many  great 
soldiers  as  Pennsylvania,  save  Virginia.  And  there  are 
so  many  points  of  resemblance,  and  so  many  identities 
of  soil,  climate,  character,  and  history  between  Virginia 
and  Pennsylvania,  that  it  seems  as  if  we  ought  never  to 
have  been  a  divided  people  or  separate  communities. 
In  times  long  gone  we  co-operated  in  our  common  de 
fence.  When  Braddock  marched  to  free  Pennsylvania 
from  a  cruel  enemy,  Washington  was  the  pioneer  of  his 
army  through  the  wilderness,  while  Ben  Franklin  was  its 
purveyor.  A  generation  later,  when  that  scheme  of 
civil  liberty  which  blesses  all  mankind  to-day  was  an 
nounced,  it  was  cradled  in  Pennsylvania,  and  Pennsyl- 
vanians  died  in  Virginia,  and  Virginians  in  Pennsylvania, 
to  establish  it.  The  same  climate  blesses  our  whole 
territory,  and  the  waters  which  fertilize  the  fields  of 
Pennsylvania  and  bear  her  cereals  to  the  sea  flow  through 
Virginia,  too.  And  those  blue  mountains  which  beautify 
and  have  built  up  the  prosperity  of  the  one  State,  sweep 
down  through  the  other  as  well.  In  both  of  these  States 
no  slavery  can  ever  exist  again,  and  all  conditions  impel 
them  as  one  great  people  to  co-operate  for  the  com 
mon  good  of  our  common  country. 

Among  those  whom  I  found  when  I  returned  to  West 
Point  after  the  Mexican  War,  was  young  Jerome  Bona 
parte.  He  is  a  grandson  of  King  Jerome  who,  when  in 
Baltimore  as  a  lieutenant  in  the  French  navy,  married 
the  beautiful  Miss  Patterson,  a  reigning  belle  of  that 
city.  The  Emperor  Napoleon  disapproved  of  his 
brother's  marriage  to  one  not  of  royal  rank.  Colonel 
Bonaparte's  father,  Mr.  Jerome  Bonaparte,  for  many 
years  a  distinguished  member  of  society  in  Baltimore, 
was  the  only  issue  of  the  first  marriage  of  King  Jerome. 

In    1854,  Colonel  Bonaparte  was  graduated  at  West 


70  RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    VIRGINIAN 

Point,  and  entered  C  Troop  of  the  Mounted  Rifles,  then 
serving  at  Fort  Inge,  Texas.  After  one  or  two  years  of 
frontier  service,  the  Emperor  Napoleon  III.  summoned 
him  to  France.  He  served  in  Algiers,  in  the  Italian 
campaign,  through  the  Crimean  War,  and  in  the  war 
between  France  and  Germany.  On  his  return  from  the 
Crimea  he  came  to  Carlisle  Barracks  and  paid  us  a 
visit;  he  had  seen  his  first  service  under  me  in  the 
Rifles.  It  was  then  that  he  gave  me  many  interesting 
details  of  the  military  operations  there  which  came 
under  his  personal  observation,  and  to  which  I  have 
briefly  alluded.  Colonel  Bonaparte's  commanding  ap 
pearance,  the  grace  and  gentleness  of  his  demeanor,  and 
his  fine  intelligence  win  for  him  the  admiration  of  all 
who  know  him.  He  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  Louis 
Napoleon  and  his  beautiful  and  unfortunate  Empress. 


CHAPTER  VI 

General  Stonewall  Jackson  —  His  Remarkable  Character  —  Married  at 
"Cleveland"  to  the  Eldest  Daughter  of  Mr.  Wiley  Roy  Mason  — 
Anecdotes  of  General  Burnside  —  On  the  Texas  Frontier  with  the 
Rifles  —  The  Life  at  Fort  Inge  —  Mrs.  Maury's  Journey  to  the  Post 
—  Promoted  and  transferred  —  Sent  Home  on  Sick  Leave 

[NE  day  while  at  West  Point  we  were  sur 
prised  by  a  visit  from  young  Major  Stonewall 
Jackson,  who  had  been  serving  since  the 
war  with  an  artillery  company  on  duty  in 
New  York  harbor.  At  that  time  he  was  convinced  that 
one  of  his  legs  was  bigger  than  the  other,  and  that  one 
of  his  arms  was  likewise  unduly  heavy.  He  had  ac 
quired  the  habit  of  raising  the  heavy  arm  straight  up  so 
that,  as  he  said,  the  blood  would  run  back  into  his  body 
and  lighten  it.  I  believe  he  never  after  relinquished  this 
peculiar  practice,  even  upon  the  battle-field.  He  told  us 
he  had  procured  a  year's  furlough  to  try  a  professorship 
which  had  been  offered  him  at  the  Virginia  Military  In 
stitute.  He  remained  there  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  between  the  States  brought  him  before  the  world  as 
the  great  Christian  soldier  of  his  time. 

His  was  the  most  remarkable  character  I  have  ever 
known.  Cold  and  impassive  of  aspect,  he  was  tenderly 
affectionate  and  full  of  fire.  Filled  with  conscientious 
scruples,  he  was  at  times  cruelly  unjust.  His  arrests  of 
Hill,  Winder,  and  General  Richard  Garnett,  three  of  the 
noblest  officers  in  our  service,  were  inexcusable,  espe- 

71 


72  RECOLLECTIONS 

cially  that  of  Garnett,  whom  he  arrested  for  not  charging 
Shields'  victorious  army  with  the  bayonet  when  his  am 
munition  failed  !  Jackson  permitted  him  to  remain  in 
this  painful  position  for  many  months,  and  when  Garnett 
finally  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  trial  before  a  court-mar 
tial,  he  was  acquitted  upon  Jackson's  own  testimony  ! 
The  court  yielded  to  Garnett's  insistence  that  his  treat 
ment  had  been  so  unjustifiable  as  to  make  it  only  right 
that  he  should  place  on  record  the  testimony  for  the  de 
fence.  Poor  Garnett !  He  fell  in  the  front  of  his  brigade 
at  Gettysburg,  loved  and  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him. 

The  arrest  of  General  Charles  Winder  was  another  act 
of  unreasoning  harshness,  which  General  Dick  Taylor, 
who  had  great  influence  with  Jackson,  induced  him  to 
revoke.  Twice  he  arrested  that  noble  soldier,  A.  P. 
Hill,  whose  name  was  the  last  upon  his  own  lips  and 
those  of  Lee.  General  Lee  was  deeply  pained  by  this 
inharmony  between  two  of  his  ablest  officers,  and  sum 
moned  them  before  him  with  a  view  of  causing  a  recon 
ciliation.  After  hearing  their  several  statements,  Lee, 
walking  gravely  to  and  fro,  said,  "  He  who  has  been  the 
most  aggrieved  can  be  the  most  magnanimous  and  make 
the  first  overtures  of  peace."  This  wise  verdict  forever 
settled  their  differences.  Jackson  unhappily  died  at 
Chancellorsville  in  the  zenith  of  his  great  fame,  and  in 
the  grandest  victory  of  Lee's  army.  Hill,  more  fortu 
nate,  fell  by  the  last  hostile  shot  at  Petersburg,  and  both 
were  spared  the  misery  of  the  surrender  and  its  cruel 
consequences.  Hill's  was  a  very  gentle,  affectionate 
nature,  full  of  courage  and  of  high  ambition.  The  noble 
monument,  recently  unveiled  in  Richmond,  designed  by 
the  Virginia  artist,  Shepherd,  is  the  perfect  presentment 
of  this  distinguished  soldier. 

Just  before  going  to  the  Mexican  War,  I  went  with  my 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  78 


mother  and  sister  to  the  Warren  ton  Springs,  then  a  favor 
ite  resort  of  the  tide-water  Virginians.  The  day  after 
our  arrival  there,  as  I  was  descending  the  steps,  I  met  a 
party  of  young  ladies  coming  up.  As  they  reached  the 
top,  one  of  them  missed  the  step  and  fell.  I  assisted 
her  to  rise,  and  we  were  introduced;  she  was  Miss 
Nannie  Mason,  and  from  that  day  we  became  very  warm 
friends.  The  exigencies  of  the  service  demanded  my 
departure  from  the  springs  after  some  weeks  of  delightful 
association,  and  we  only  met  briefly  and  casually  until 
time  and  opportunity  favored  me,  and  we  discovered 
we  had  lost  much  happiness. 

Soon  after  the  execution  of  King  Charles,  many  of 
his  adherents  came  to  this  Virginia,  among  them  two 
brothers,  John  and  George  Mason.  The  great  George 
Mason,  the  author  of  the  Bill  of  Rights,  was  descended 
from  one  of  these  brothers,  and  Judge  John  Y.  Mason, 
once  our  Minister  to  France,  was  descended  from  the 
other.  My  wife's  father,  Mr.  Wiley  Roy  Mason,  was 
remotely  akin  to  the  judge,  and  they  were  close  friends, 
and  in  their  day  no  higher  or  more  congenial  gentlemen 
than  these  two  were  to  be  found  in  all  our  land.  Mr. 
Roy  Mason  had  gone  into  King  George  County  with  his 
young  wife,  to  seek  his  fortune.  He  was  without  prop 
erty  or  money  in  1830,  and  had  built  up  the  largest  law 
practice  in  all  that  region,  and  acquired  real  estate  which 
yielded  him  annually  more  than  his  practice.  Such  was 
the  confidence  in  his  integrity  and  ability,  that  it  was  said 
of  him  that  he  had  done  away  with  litigation  in  the  court 
of  King  George  County,  because  when  people  had  a  dis 
agreement  about  rights  of  property,  they  went  to  Roy 
Mason's  office  and  left  the  case  for  him  to  decide,  with 
entire  confidence  in  the  uprightness  of  the  decision,  and 
escaped  big  fees  and  court  charges. 


74  RECOLLECTIONS 


Mr.  Mason  kept  open  house  at  "Cleveland,"  his  country 
home,  and  my  marriage  with  his  eldest  daughter  was 
made  the  occasion  of  a  generous  hospitality  which  was 
long  remembered  in  the  county.  There  were  eight 
bridesmaids  and  groomsmen,  and  I  asked  McClellan  and 
Franklin  to  be  of  the  number,  but  distant  service  pre 
vented  them  from  coming,  and  Burnside  and  Reno,  of 
the  Ordnance,  took  their  places.  Neighbor  Jones  and 
Seth  Barton  came  to  represent  the  army,  and  many 
score  of  gentlemen,  schoolmates,  and  friends,  —  Turner 
Ashby  and  his  noble  brother  Dick,  and  many  another 
destined  soon  to  fall  in  defence  of  our  homes.  My  wife 
had  three  sisters  and  three  first  cousins,  who  followed  her 
example,  and  married  army  officers.  They  were  all  re 
markably  handsome  and  attractive  girls,  and  General 
Sherman  finally  predicted,  "Those  Mason  girls  will 
break  up  the  army." 

Burnside  was  the  life  of  many  a  jovial  incident  of  that 
long-remembered  wedding.  The  festivities  lasted  a  week, 
and  he  had  never  before  enjoyed  an  occasion  so  entirely  to 
his  taste.  He  remembered  in  the  day  of  his  power  the 
kindness  he  had  received  at  "Cleveland,"  and  when  Mr. 
Stanton  sent  an  order  for  the  arrest  of  Mr.  Mason,  Judge 
Lomax,  Colonel  Washington,  Dr.  Stuart,  Mr.  Thomas  Bar 
ton,  and  other  old  and  prominent  gentlemen  of  the  North 
ern  Neck,  Burnside  forbore  to  execute  it,  and  he  gave 
Mrs.  Mason  a  safeguard  for  her  home  and  property,  which 
were  never  molested  until  after  his  removal  from  the 
command  of  the  army  and  district.  Then  a  regiment 
under  the  command  of  Sir  Percy  Wyndham,  an  English 
man,  "  looted  "  "  Cleveland,"  carried  off  a  great  store  of 
choice  old  wines  and  brandy,  the  finest  in  the  county, 
many  household  and  personal  effects  and  private  letters, 
and  my  family  Bible.  When  Mr.  Mason  returned  from 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  75 


Fredericksburg  that  day,  he  found  his  house  had  been 
thus  invaded,  and  went  in  person  to  see  the  colonel, 
who  caused  the  return  of  the  Bible.  But  of  his  wines, 
etc.,  he  never  saw  more,  except  about  a  quart  of  his 
Tinto  Madeira,  which  one  of  his  old  servants  brought  him 
when  he  came  home  wet  and  chilled  that  night.  It  had 
been  poured  into  her  cabin  pail  by  a  good-natured  soldier, 
who  had  no  turn  for  such  thin  tipple  after  the  choice  old 
brandy. 

About  1856,  Burnside  was  stationed  at  Tucalote,  a 
Mexican  village  some  twenty  miles  west  of  Fort  Union. 
The  Apache  Indians  were  not  friendly,  and  on  the  occa 
sion  of  some  grievance  came  into  the  village  with  inso 
lent  and  threatening  deportment,  fully  armed,  and  ready 
for  a  fight.  At  this  time  Burnside's  battery  had  no  rifles 
or  revolvers,  —  only  the  artillery  sabre,  and  there  were 
but  forty  men,  all  told,  for  duty.  These  he  marched  to 
where  the  Indians  were  daring  an  attack.  After  some 
inconclusive  discussion,  the  Indians  ended  all  further  talk 
by  a  discharge  of  arrows.  Burnside  charged  them  at 
once,  broke  and  scattered  them,  and  chased  them  for 
some  miles  over  the  open  prairie  towards  cover.  His 
horses  enabled  his  party  to  overtake  the  flying  Indians, 
but  the  blows  of  the  dull  sabres  glanced  from  their  shin 
ing  skulls  almost  harmlessly.  He  then  gave  point  with 
fine  effect,  so  that  some  twenty  of  the  hostiles  were 
killed  before  they  reached  the  shelter  of  the  timber. 
Soon  after  this  he  resigned  and  joined  McClellan  in  his 
railroad  business,  until  the  war  between  the  States  brought 
them  both  again  into  service. 

After  the  war,  Burnside  remembered  the  good  people 
he  had  met  and  known  in  Virginia,  and,  learning  that  a 
young  lady,  who  was  one  of  the  bridesmaids  at  my  wed 
ding,  had  been  turned  out  of  her  office  as  a  clerk  in  one 


76  RECOLLECTIONS 


of  the  departments,  he  left  the  White  Sulphur  Springs 
and  posted  to  Washington,  and  had  her  reinstated.  He 
was  an  excellent  officer,  but  he  knew  his  measure  and 
felt  his  unfitness  to  supersede  McClellan,  whom  he  had 
long  and  justly  looked  upon  as  his  superior.  He  pro 
tested  against  the  change  of  commanders,  made  as  it  was 
after  McClellan's  most  signal  service. 

At  the  end  of  my  furlough,  I  joined  my  Company  H  of 
the  Rifles  at  Fort  Inge,  on  the  Leona  River,  a  beautiful 
little  stream  which  gushes  out  of  a  deep,  bright  pool,  well 
stocked  with  fine,  black  bass.  There  were  no  settlements 
between  us  and  the  Rio  Grande,. ninety  miles  away,  and 
only  occasional  bands  of  marauding  Indians  passed  along 
there.  These  were  mostly  Lipans,  who  made  frequent 
incursions  into  the  country  about  San  Antonio  and  the 
lower  Rio  Grande.  For  several  years  the  Rifles  were 
occupied  in  scouting  for  these  depredators,  and  occasion 
ally  a  band  was  caught  and  scattered.  When  hard  pressed, 
they  would  separate  and  make  their*way  singly  across  the 
Rio  Grande  into  Mexico,  where  they  were  safe  from  our 
pursuit.  These  Indians  had  their  resting-places  at  Fort 
Worth,  upon  the  upper  Brazos,  near  where  the  Second 
Dragoons  were  stationed,  and  they  always  kept  the  peace 
with  them.  Evidently  they  regarded  us  as  a  separate  tribe, 
for  whenever  they  were  about  to  make  a  raid  down  our 
way,  they  would  tell  the  dragoons  that  they  had  "  war  with 
the  Rifles  "  and  gravely  bid  them  "  Good  by." 

In  those  days  the  quarters  for  officers  and  troops,  upon 
the  frontier,  were  only  such  as  the  soldiers  could  construct 
of  the  materials  at  hand.  At  Fort  Inge  they  were  made  of 
poles  set  in  trenches  close  together,  the  many  open  chinks 
being  daubed  with  mud.  The  roofs  were  thatched,  and 
the  floors  were  of  coarse  boards  sawed  by  hand.  All  was 
as  unsightly  as  it  was  comfortless.  Fortunately,  the  climate 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  77 


was  so  mild  that  we  had  no  occasion  for  fires  except  for 
cooking.  Game  of  every  sort  abounded  all  about  us. 
Deer,  wild  turkeys,  ducks,  partridges,  were  to  be  had  for 
the  seeking.  San  Antonio,  ninety-eight  miles  to  the  east 
ward,  was  our  nearest  town ;  from  thence  our  mail  came 
by  courier  once  a  week. 

Colonel  George  Crittenden,  then  commanding  Fort 
Inge,  one  day  killed  ten  deer  in  nine  shots.  He  used  a 
little,  small-bore  rifle,  muzzle-loader,  of  course.  He  was  a 
wonderful  fisherman,  and  spent  day  after  day  floating 
along  the  Leona,  catching  black  bass.  One  day  he  took 
a  bass  which  weighed  eight  pounds.  He  said  he  had 
often  seen  one  which  weighed  ten  pounds,  but  never 
could  catch  him.  When  at  guard-mounting  the  orderly 
would  daily  report  to  him,  his  formula  was,  "  Do  you 
know  how  to  catch  minnows?" 

"Yes,  Colonel." 

"Then  take  my  bucket,  go  to  the  creek,  and  catch 
some."  When  he  had  accomplished  this  duty,  the  colonel 
would  say,  "  You  may  go  to  your  quarters." 

He  had  early  gone  to  Texas,  and  was  one  of  the  Mier 
prisoners  who  had  to  draw  for  the  black  bean  when  that 
ill-conducted  invasion  came  to  grief.  One  out  of  every 
ten  Americans  captured  was  shot.  The  colonel  told  me 
that  one  day  while  in  prison  in  Matamoras,  he  examined 
the  well  of  the  prison,  and  discovered  a  fish  in  it.  I  said, 
"I'll  bet  you  caught  him."  He  laughed,  and  replied, 
."  Indeed,  I  did.  I  got  a  pin,  made  a  hook,  found  a  piece 
of  twine,  and  fished  for  that  fellow  till  I  caught  him."  He 
told  me  he  had  on  one  occasion  fished  in  the  Tennessee 
River  two  days  without  getting  a  bite,  and  enjoyed  it  as 
much  as  any  fishing  he  had  ever  had. 

Colonel  Crittenden  was  one  of  the  most  honorable  and 
truthful  gentlemen  I  have  ever  known,  and  was  a  son 


78  RECOLLECTIONS 


of  the  distinguished  John  J.  Crittenden,  long  United 
States  senator  from  Kentucky,  whose  influence  was  most 
potent  in  preventing  the  secession  of  his  State.  His 
father's  course  greatly  distressed  Colonel  Crittenden. 
He  told  me  in  Santa  Fe",  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  "  I 
am  sure  I  shall  find  my  father  altogether  with  the  South 
when  I  get  home."  The  unfortunate  affair  at  Fishing 
Creek,  where  the  Confederate  force  under  his  command 
was  badly  worsted,  ended  his  career  in  the  field.  He 
lived  many  years  after  the  war,  and  enjoyed  the  good-will 
and  respect  of  all  who  knew  him. 

The  only  other  officer  at  Fort  Inge  was  the  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Dr.  Getty.  The  Indians  were  quiet  and  we  led 
a  very  uneventful  life,  our  chief  interest  being  the  care  of 
the  horses  sick  with  the  glanders.  At  least  one-third  of 
the  troop  had  glanders  or  farcy.  Some  died,  some  we 
shot,  but  most  of  them  entirely  recovered.  Many 
escaped  the  loathsome  disease,  which  was  quite  remark 
able,  for  we  had  no  separate  stabling  or  pasturage  for 
them. 

In  the  course  of  that  year,  young  Jerome  Bonaparte 
joined  us,  and  I  was  enabled  to  go  to  New  Orleans  to 
meet  my  wife  and  bring  her  to  Fort  Inge.  It  was  a  com 
fortless  abiding-place  for  one  reared  as  she  had  been,  but 
then,  as  ever,  her  home  was  with  her  husband.  It  was 
some  years  before  she  ever  met  any  of  the  wives  of  the 
officers  of  the  Rifles.  Now  whole  regiments  are  together 
in  completely  comfortable  and  handsome  residences,  but 
it  was  very  different  then.  I  found  my  wife  at  the  home 
of  Dr.  Wedderburn,  a  well-known  physician  of  the  city. 
The  yellow  fever  was  raging,  and  quinine  and  opium  were 
his  especial  prescription  for  it.  I  think  he  gave  as  much 
as  thirty  grains  of  quinine  and  four  grains  of  opium  in  bad 
cases  of  yellow  fever,  with  unfailing  success,  he  said. 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  79 


The  fever  increased  in  violence,  and  we  soon  made 
haste  to  leave,  taking  passage  on  the  steamer  Fashion, 
Captain  Baker  commanding.  She  was  a  very  frail  vessel, 
such  as  no  quartermaster  would  dare  to  sead  troops  or 
stores  in  now,  but  her  captain  was  well  acquainted  with 
her  ways  and  the  ways  of  these  seas,  and  had  kept  her 
going  for  many  a  year,  until,  not  long  after  our  voyage, 
even  his  skill  could  not  prevail  against  the  power  of  one 
of  our  Gulf  storms,  and  the  Fashion  was  wrecked.  Cap 
tain  Baker's  sons  were  gallant  officers  of  the  Navy,  and 
for  many  years  one  of  them  has  been  the  able  editor  of 
the  Times-Democrat. 

There  were  several  officers  and  families  going  out  on 
this  trip,  and  we  made  the  journey  from  San  Antonio  in 
ambulances,  keeping  together  for  sociability  and  safety. 
I  well  remember  Colonel  Morris,  an  old  infantry  officer, 
who  was  going  with  his  family  to  the  Post  at  Eagle  Pass, 
then  Fort  Duncan.  The  first  night  out  we  stopped  in 
Castroville,  at  the  hotel  kept  by  Madame  Tardee,  a 
typical  French  hostess.  Our  party  was  large  enough  to 
occupy  the  whole  of  the  second  floor,  the  ceilings  and 
partitions  of  which  were  all  of  thin  cotton  cloth.  We 
only  realized  the  force  of  this  economical  arrangement 
after  some  unguarded  conversation  had  set  the  entire 
party  to  suppressed  giggling  and  whispering.  There  were 
young  men  and  maidens  along,  and  we  had  altogether  a 
very  pleasant  journey.  I  remember  Colonel  Morris  and 
his  family  as  being  especially  kind  to  us.  He  was  an  old 
veteran,  who  had  seen  much  service,  and  gave  my  wife 
much  good  advice  as  to  her  frontier  life,  which  at  Fort 
Inge  was  rough  enough. 

The  only  event  of  interest  to  me  while  commanding  H 
Company  at  Fort  Inge  was  a  riotous  outbreak  on  the  part 
of  some  of  the  men.  The  company,  from  long  idleness 


80  RECOLLECTIONS 


and  isolation,  had  become  quite  careless  of  duty,  and  many 
of  them  would  drink  at  the  sutler's  more  than  was  good 
for  them.  They  were  encouraged  to  indiscipline  by  the 
laundresses  of  the  company,  of  whom  there  were  four  of 
the  lowest  specimens  of  their  class  east  of  the  Rio 
Grande ;  and  their  houses  were  often  scenes  of  the  most 
outrageous  disorder.  One  night  about  eleven  o'clock  the 
first  sergeant,  a  huge  ne'er-do-well,  came  to  my  quarters 
in  great  excitement  and  reported  that  a  number  of  the 
worst  men  in  the  troop  had  taken  possession  of  one  of 
the  laundresses'  houses,  were  drunk  and  violent,  and 
threatened  to  kill  any  man  who  attempted  to  enter. 

I  snatched  up  my  sabre  and  revolver  and  hastened 
with  the  trembling  sergeant  to  the  scene  of  the  outbreak, 
where  I  found  the  rioters  had  beaten  off  the  guard  and 
had  scattered  to  their  quarters,  except  one  violent  fellow 
named  O'Donnel,  one  of  the  worst  men  in  the  troop,  who 
had  gone  in  the  other  direction.  Taking  a  corporal  with 
me,  I  went  in  pursuit  of  him.  The  moon  was  full,  and 
the  sky  was  clear,  and  we  soon  found  our  man  crouched 
in  a  potato  patch  several  hundred  yards  below  the  stable. 
As  I  hailed  him  and  ordered  him  to  come  in,  he  arose 
and  started  to  run.  I  fired  and  he  dropped  at  the  shot, 
and  when  I  reached  his  side  he  was  as  ghastly  a  picture 
of  a  dead  man  as  I  have  ever  seen.  He  lay  upon  his 
back  with  fixed  and  staring  eyes,  gasping  in  a  dreadful  way. 
My  feelings  were  fearfully  wrought  up,  and  I  would  have 
given  my  right  hand  to  recall  the  last  half  minute.  I 
turned  him  over,  and  examined  him  to  find  his  wound, 
when,  to  my  great  joy,  he  said,  "  You  haven't  hit  me  bad, 
Lieutenant,"  and  showed  me  the  slight  mark  of  my  bullet. 
As  he  started  to  rise,  he  caught  his  foot  in  the  potato 
vine  and  fell  prone,  with  his  stomach  fair  upon  the  sharp 
stump  of  a  sapling,  which  knocked  the  life  out  of  him  for 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  81 


the  time.  I  had  him  carried  to  the  hospital,  and  never 
again  had  any  trouble  with  that  company.  Next  day  all 
of  the  laundresses  were  put  into  a  wagon  and  hauled  away, 
bag  and  baggage,  and  deposited  at  a  settlement  far  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  government  reservation. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  months,  I  was  promoted  to  be 
first  lieutenant  of  B  Company,  then  stationed  at  Fort 
Ewell,  the  most  unhealthy  and  comfortless  of  all  our 
frontier  posts.  I  took  my  wife  down  to  San  Antonio, 
then  the  most  populous  and  attractive  town  in  the  State, 
and  leaving  her  there  in  the  care  of  that  able  and  excel 
lent  man,  Dr.  Heerf,  who  still  stands  at  the  head  of  his 
profession,  I  set  out  in  sad  spirits  for  my  place  of  banish 
ment.  The  route  lay  for  more  than  one  hundred  miles 
over  a  very  desolate  region,  then  scarcely  inhabited,  and 
frequently  traversed  by  bands  of  hostile  Indians.  I  had 
no  escort  but  one  smart  young  Rifleman,  who  took  care 
of  my  horses.  The  quartermaster  gave  me  a  wagon, 
the  teamster  of  which  was  the  most  extraordinary  coward 
I  have  ever  met  with.  He  died  many  deaths  between 
San  Antonio  and  the  Nueces. 

Two  or  three  traders  from  Camargo  on  the  Rio  Grande 
came  to  me  on  setting  out  and  proposed  that  for  mutual 
defence  and  sociability  we  should  travel  together.  We 
should  then  have  a  party  of  five  well-armed  men,  not 
counting  the  teamster,  and  in  those  days  five  well-armed 
Americans  were  a  match  for  five  times  as  many  Indians, 
who  had  no  weapons  but  bows  and  spears.  It  often  hap 
pened  out  there  that  one  or  two  white  men  kept  bands 
of  Indians  at  bay  till  succor  came,  or  the  Indians  aban 
doned  the  attack.  They  would  lose  many  warriors  for  a 
good  herd  of  horses,  but  not  one  for  only  a  few.  I  had 
with  me  then  a  very  fine  bay  mare  and  also  a  very  fleet 
black  Spanish  horse.  I  rode  that  mare  once  ninety- 


82  RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    VIRGINIAN 

eight  miles  in  twenty-four  hours,  galloping  all  the  way. 
We  rode  into  San  Antonio  fresh  as  daisies,  the  mare  and  I. 
At  the  Rio  Frio  I  fell  ill,  and  my  fellow-travellers  left 
me  there,  for  they  cared  not  to  tarry  in  that  dangerous 
locality.  As  I  grew  worse,  I  sent  my  Rifleman  on  to  Fort 
Ewell,  thirty  miles,  for  the  doctor  and  remedies,  while  I 
lay  all  night  at  the  ford  of  the  Rio  Frio  with  no  help  or 
companion  but  that  white-livered  teamster,  whose  fright 
was  so  ludicrous  as  to  amuse  me  in  spite  of  my  sufferings. 
During  the  night  a  lion  came  prowling  into  our  little 
camp,  and  the  teamster  retired  to  my  tent,  where  I  in 
duced  him  to  fire  my  gun,  which  sounded  as  loud  as  a 
cannon.  At  last  I  grew  so  much  worse  that  I  decided 
not  to  wait  for  the  doctor,  but  set  out  at  daylight  for 
Fort  Ewell.  The  road  was  bad,  but  I  travelled  in  the 
wagon,  being  unable  to  sit  my  horse.  The  teamster 
cracked  his  whip  and  struck  a  trot,  looking  all  the  while 
around  the  horizon  for  Indians,  and  never  slacked  his  gait 
until  we  met  my  Rifleman  hastening  back  to  me  with  a 
buggy.  There  was  no  ambulance  at  the  Post,  and  the 
surgeon  could  not  leave,  so  he  sent  his  buggy  for  me  with 
medicines  and  a  kind  letter  of  advice.  The  buggy  was  a 
delightful  change  from  the  hard-going  wagon,  the  rem 
edies  acted  promptly,  and  the  arrival  of  a  reinforcement 
in  the  person  of  the  Rifleman  revived  the  teamster's 
spirits  wonderfully,  and  we  soon  trotted  over  the  distance 
to  Fort  Ewell.  In  all  my  experience,  I  have  never  seen 
so  desolate  and  uncomfortable  a  place,  and  my  heart 
was  light,  when,  in  a  few  days,  the  doctor  sent  me  back 
to  San  Antonio  with  a  sick  certificate,  whence  General 
Persifer  Smith  sent  me  home  on  sick  leave. 


CHAPTER  VII 


Philadelphia  Hospitality  —  The  Wreck  of  the  Steamship  San  Francisco 

—  An  Expedition  to  New  Mexico  under  General  Persifer  Smith  — 
Incidents  of  the  March  —  The  Beauty  of  the  Wild  Rose  Pass  — 
Hunting  Adventures  —  Peculiarities  of  the  Game  of  the  Country 

—  Encounters  with  the  Apaches  — Odd    Characters  —  Arrival    at 
Laredo 

E  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  my  wife  was, 
under  the  care  of  the  great  and  good  Dr. 
Meigg,  who  was  not  only  chief  of  living  phy 
sicians,  but  one  of  the  most  charming  of  ra 
conteurs.  His  visits  were  tri-weekly  ;  but  when  he  came  he 
was  prepared  to  sit  nearly  an  hour  with  us,  entertaining 
us  with  his  instructive  and  delightful  talk.  I  remember, 
as  an  evidence  of  his  thoughtful  kindness,  that  he  brought 
one  day  from  his  own  house  an  exquisite  Madonna  to 
brighten  my  wife's  room,  and  hung  it  where  she  could  see 
it  from  her  bed.  When  our  stay  in  Philadelphia  was 
ended,  I  went  to  his  house  and  asked  him  for  his  bill. 
He  showed  a  desire  to  make  no  charge  at  all  for  his  ser 
vices,  but  finally  said  in  a  pleasant  way :  "  I  know  how 
proud  you  army  men  are,  and  you  will  be  angry  if  I 
charge  you  nothing.  I  am  in  great  need  of  a  twenty- 
dollar  gold  piece,  and  if  you  have  one  about  you,  I  will 
thank  you  for  it."  I  had  one  and  many  more  which  1 
had  expected  to  pay  him. 

People  were  very  kind  to  us  in  Philadelphia,  espe 
cially  the  families  of  Biddle  and  Gilpin.  During  our 
stay  there  the  lamentable  wreck  of  the  steamship  San 

83 


84  RECOLLECTIONS 


Francisco  occurred.  A  widespread  anxiety  prevailed  in 
our  whole  country,  for  upon  her  was  a  whole  regiment  of 
United  States  artillery,  en  route  to  California  round  the 
Horn.  By  the  breaking  off  of  the  upper  deck,  Colonel 
Washington,  Captain  Taylor,  and  several  hundred  officers 
and  men  were  swept  away.  The  hull  was  left  drifting, 
with  hundreds  of  the  men,  women,  and  children  of  the 
regiment,  —  where,  no  man  could  say. 

My  uncle,  Lieutenant  M.  F.  Maury,  had  then  announced 
his  theories  about  the  wind  and  currents  of  the  sea,  and 
was  at  the  head  of  the  National  Observatory.  Humboldt 
had  declared  him  the  discoverer  of  a  new  science.  On 
him  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  called  to  locate  the  posi 
tion  of  the  San  Francisco,  and  direct  the  course  of  the 
ship  to  be  sent  to  her  rescue.  I  well  remember  the 
honest  pride  with  which  he  wrote  me  how  they  found 
the  wreck  just  where  he  showed  it  ought  to  be,  and 
saved  the  hundreds  of  survivors  ;  among  them  Lieutenant 
Frank  Murray,  who  won  grateful  acknowledgment  for 
his  heroic  conduct  and  gentle  care  of  the  helpless  women 
and  children,  in  recognition  of  which  the  people  of  Phila 
delphia  gave  him  a  service  of  silver. 

I  took  my  wife  to  her  home  at  "  Cleveland,"  her  father's 
country  seat,  and  went  my  way  to  Texas  again,  arriving 
at  Corpus  Christi  in  time  to  join  General  Persifer  Smith 
on  his  expedition  up  into  New  Mexico.  He  had  an 
escort  of  one  hundred  Riflemen,  made  up  of  ten  men 
from  each  company,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
John  G.  Walker.  I  commanded  the  artillery,  viz.,  one 
mountain  howitzer  and  twelve  men.  Lieutenant  E.  A. 
Carr,  lately  promoted  to  brigadier,  Lieutenant  Alfred 
Gibbs,  aide-de-camp,  and  Assistant-Surgeon  McParlan 
completed  our  command. 

General  Persifer  Smith  had  been  our  first  colonel,  and 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  85 


all  who  remember  him  at  Monterey  and  on  "Scott's  line" 
from  Vera  Cruz  to  the  city  of  Mexico  will  agree  that  he 
was  a  fine  specimen  of  a  soldier  and  a  man.  In  the  day 
of  battle  he  perhaps  had  no  superior  in  our  army.  His 
courage  was  of  the  highest  order,  his  attainments  were 
varied,  his  professional  information  was  excellent,  his 
judgment  was  sound,  his  plans  were  always  formed 
promptly  and  executed  boldly,  and  he  had  under  all 
circumstances  complete  control  of  his  resources.  Those 
who  knew  General  Smith  only  after  disease  had  sapped 
the  vigor  of  his  faculties  can  form  little  idea  of  him  as  he 
was  when  first  appointed  colonel  of  the  Rifles.  He  was 
then  the  illustration  of  a  brave  and  hardy  soldier,  and 
courteous,  high-spirited  gentleman.  Had  he  no  claim 
upon  history  beside  Contreras,  he  would  still  rank  with 
the  best  commanders  America  has  produced.  His  suc 
cess  in  that  affair  was  achieved  by  a  small  force  over  the 
Mexican  army  in  strong  position.  His  confidence  in  his 
troops  and  in  the  soundness  of  his  plans  was  strikingly 
illustrated  by  the  composure  with  which  he  drew  out  his 
watch  as  he  saw  his  Rifles  moving  to  the  assault,  and 
when  the  last  Mexican  had  left  the  redoubt  or  surren 
dered,  announced  to  the  officers  around  him,  "  It  has 
taken  just  seventeen  minutes." 

He  marched  with  a  large  wagon  train  to  carry  forage 
for  our  horses,  for  we  were  to  be  gone  nearly  four 
months,  and  could  not  expect  to  find  adequate  pasturage 
along  our  route.  We  arose  at  3  A.M.,  marched  at  4.30, 
and  halted  for  camp  on  the  best  water  we  could  find, 
averaging  thirty-three  miles  daily  throughout  the  march. 

One  day,  having  missed  our  watering-place,  we  con 
tinued  the  march  till  10  P.M.,  camping  on  Lympia  Creek, 
in  the  mouth  of  the  Wild  Rose  Pass.  At  Fort  Davis, 
upon  the  Lympia,  we  halted,  where  was  a  great  spring 


86  RECOLLECTIONS 


of  fresh,  delicious  water  and  excellent  grass.  From  this 
camp  General  Smith  went  off  toward  the  Rio  Grande. 

Soon  after  Baldy  Smith  proposed  to  me  to  take  a  good 
escort  and  make  up  a  party  of  officers  and  go  down  the 
Pass  to  the  Sierra  Prieta,  a  lofty  peak  which  rose  at  the 
mouth  of  the  gorge  above  all  the  surrounding  mountains. 
Game  abounded  all  about  us,  and  I  well  remember  that 
Lieutenants  Dodge  and  Cole  and  myself  killed  over 
eighty  ducks,  mostly  blue-winged  teal,  that  day,  so  we 
had  a  bountiful  supper.  Dr.  Guild  was  one  of  our  party, 
afterward  chief  medical  officer  of  the  army  of  northern 
Virginia.  All  was  quiet  outside  our  camp  during  the 
night,  while  in  the  great  Sibley  tent  we  passed  a  jolly 
time. 

Early  next  morning,  leaving  a  strong  guard  in  camp, 
we  commenced  the  ascent  of  the  mountain  along  whose 
base  ran  a  deep  trail  made  by  the  Apaches  on  their  way 
to  and  from  their  permanent  camp,  twenty  miles  distant. 
The  ascent  was  the  work  of  several  hours.  We  rode 
until  our  horses  could  go  no  further,  and  then  dismount 
ing,  we  all,  seven  in  number,  raced  for  the  top.  I  for 
bear  to  say  who  first  waved  his  bandanna  from  the 
summit.  Around  the  crown  of  this  singular  peak  arose 
a  precipice  of  basaltic  rock  some  thirty  feet  high,  after 
surmounting  which  we  found  ourselves  upon  a  smooth 
plateau  nearly  a  mile  across.  Upon  it  were  grass  and 
herbs,  and  a  rabbit  bounced  up  here  and  there  and 
scudded  away  from  us.  To  this  day  I  have  never  been 
able  to  decide  how  those  rabbits  got  up  there,  or  why. 

Baldy  Smith  pointed  out  to  us  the  Apache  camp,  in 
which  two  years  before  he,  with  William  Henry  Whiting, 
Dick  Howard,  and  Policarpio,  their  guide,  were  carried 
prisoners,  and  held  until  the  chiefs  decided  whether  to  kill 
them  or  not.  Happily,  after  a  solemn  council  it  was  deter- 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  87 


mined  to  release  them.  "Polly,"  as  he  was  known,  was 
a  famous  Mexican  guide  and  hunter,  as  brave  and  faith 
ful  as  any  man  upon  the  plains.  When  last  in  Texas  I 
heard  of  him  as  an  eloquent  Baptist  preacher. 

When  we  descended,  we  found  in  the  trail  the  fresh 
pony-tracks  of  two  Indian  scouts,  so  we  kept  very  quiet 
in  camp  till  after  full  dark,  when  we  harnessed  up  and 
drove  ten  miles  on  our  homeward  way  as  fast  as  we  could 
go,  and  halted  for  the  night  in  the  road.  Once  during 
the  night  the  sentinel  quietly  called  us.  Some  animal, 
probably  a  grizzly,  was  moving  along  the  mountain  side  not 
far  above  us.  We  were  astir  early  next  morning,  and  were 
soon  back  in  our  camp  upon  the  Lympia.  The  First  In 
fantry  had  arrived  by  this  time  and  established  itself  in 
Fort  Davis,  situated  in  a  beautiful  canon  in  the  mountains, 
with  a  deep,  cold,  gushing  spring  just  at  its  mouth. 

The  next  party  that  went  down  that  Lympia  Canon  did 
not  fare  as  well  as  we  did.  Like  ourselves,  they  went 
partly  for  the  pleasure  of  the  trip  and  partly  to  report 
as  to  the  whereabouts  of  the  Indians,  but  none  of  them 
came  back  to  recite  the  incidents  of  the  expedition ;  for 
they  were  surprised  in  their  camp  and  all  murdered  by 
those  Apaches. 

I  have  never  seen  anything  in  America  more  beautiful 
than  the  Wild  Rose  Pass,  where  for  near  twenty  miles  the 
bright  Lympia  finds  its  way  along  the  base  of  the  preci 
pices,  over  one  thousand  feet  high,  or  through  lovely  mead 
ows  which  stretch  away  for  miles  over  slopes  dotted  with 
patches  of  fine  timber.  The  morning  we  first  entered  it, 
Baldy  Smith  and  I  rode  together,  and  noted  with  delight 
how  the  morning  sunshine  touched  the  tops  of  those  high 
cliffs,  and  bathed  them  in  innumerable  tints  of  crimson 
and  violet  and  gold.  We  used  to  believe  when  we  visited 
the  Dusseldorf  Gallery,  and  noted  the  landscapes  hanging 


88  RECOLLECTIONS 


there,  that  such  coloring  was  the  invention  of  the  painter ; 
but  no  painter  yet  has  ever  equalled  nature,  and  in  the 
Wild  Rose  Pass  she  has  spread  her  most  beautiful  colors. 
I  remember  once  to  have  heard  an  artist  of  merit  dis 
cussing  this  very  question  of  the  inadequacy  of  the 
painter's  palette  to  reproduce  the  hues  of  nature.  "  Peo 
ple  are  prone,"  he  said,  "  to  criticise  landscapes  and  say 
they  are  exaggerated  in  color,  but  if  any  one  will  try  to 
reproduce  a  sunrise  or  a  sunset  he  will  realize  the  diffi 
culty  of  portraying  upon  one  small  canvas  the  brilliant 
and  beautiful  tints  which  nature  continually  spreads  out 
before  us." 

We  rested  well  and  long  in  that  delightful  camp  upon 
the  Lympia.  I  was  the  hunter  of  our  mess,  and  was 
often  tempted  to  stray  too  far  from  camp  alone.  I  had 
a  great  ambition  to  encounter  a  grizzly,  as  we  called  the 
fierce,  brown  bears  of  that  region,  and  one  evening  I  had 
gone  alone  down  into  the  canon  in  search  of  partridges 
and  teal.  One  barrel  of  my  gun  was  charged  with  num 
ber  six,  and  the  other  held  nine  buckshot  for  Indians. 
I  had  gone  some  distance  down  into  the  canon,  when 
I  observed  that  the  sun  was  low  and  I  must  hasten 
back  to  camp.  On  my  homeward  way  I  came  upon  the 
track  of  a  huge  grizzly,  who  had  crossed  the  road  only 
a  few  minutes  before,  and  must  at  that  moment  have 
been  within  two  hundred  paces  of  me.  When  I  viewed 
that  footprint,  two  feet  long,  and  knew  the  foot  that 
made  it  was  close  by,  I  quickened  my  own  pace  for 
camp,  and  did  not  feel  that  I  was  called  upon  to  "  pro 
ject"  with  bears  like  that.  I  had  several  times  caused 
apprehension  by  long  absences  alone,  and  at  last  Walker 
insisted  that  I  should  not  go  out  again  without  an  escort, 
and  gave  me  two  fine  young  Riflemen,  Bryan  and  Davis, 
for  my  companions,  who  were  good  hunters,  and  added 
much  to  my  pleasure  and  comfort. 


A   VIRGINIAN 


One  day  while  hunting  alone  on  some  lagoons  seven 
or  eight  miles  from  the  camp,  I  crawled  upon  some  geese 
and  bagged  three  with  one  barrel  while  they  were  upon 
the  water,  and  two  with  the  second  barrel  as  they  rose. 
They  flew  half  a  mile  and  settled  upon  the  bare  prairie, 
whither  I  followed  them  and  got  three  more,  and  has 
tened  back  to  camp  with  my  horse  covered  with  geese 
and  ducks,  which  I  liberally  distributed  among  the  ladies 
of  the  First  Infantry,  who  had  just  arrived  from  their  long 
march  to  occupy  Fort  Davis.  This  was  probably  the 
best  game  they  had  tasted  for  a  month  or  more. 

Soon  after  this  we  set  out  for  El  Paso,  and  on  the 
second  or  third  day  were  met  by  a  man  who  told  us 
with  great  vociferation  how  the  Indians  had  run  off  fifty 
head  of  his  cattle  from  Eagle  Springs,  and  begged  the 
general  to  aid  him  in  recovering  them.  His  nickname 
was  "Talking"  Campbell.  In  those  early  days  of  Texas, 
men  were  named  from  some  personal  peculiarity,  and  we 
had  then  living  "  Big-foot "  Wallace,  a  tremendous,  good- 
natured  fellow  from  Rockbridge  County,  Virginia.  On 
my  first  introduction  to  him  I  could  not  perceive  any 
unusual  size  in  his  feet,  and  was  informed  that  he  ac 
quired  his  cognomen  honestly  in  battle,  having  slain  a 
famous  Indian  chief  known  as  "  Big  Foot."  Then  there 
was  "Deaf"  Smith,  who  once,  when  General  Houston 
ordered  his  army  to  lie  down  that  they  might  be  the 
better  protected  from  the  Mexican  cannon,  looked 
around  him,  and,  seeing  the  smoke  and  flame  of  the 
Mexican  guns  and  all  his  comrades  prone  upon  the 
ground,  did  not  tarry  there  a  moment  longer,  but,  turn 
ing,  fled  and  reported  all  killed  but  himself.  It  was  said 
that  for  years  "Deaf"  Smith  was  engaged  in  single  com 
bats  because  of  this  experience  in  his  first  great  battle. 
Few  men  dared  to  mention  San  Jacinto  or  Sam  Houston 
in  his  presence. 


90  RECOLLECTIONS 


Then  there  was  "Stuttering"  Lane,  a  capital  good 
fellow  from  San  Antonio,  who  had  many  funny  jokes 
upon  himself  suggested  by  his  infirmity.  When  asked 
why  a  certain  lady  did  not  marry  him  after  promising  to 
do  so,  he  stammered  out  that  she  was  going  to  marry 
him,  till  a  certain  "  damn- fool-busybody "  told  her  he 
stuttered  !  Another  was  our  friend  then  present  with 
us,  and  no  man  who  ever  met  "Talking"  Campbell  ever 
had  occasion  to  inquire  why  he  was  so  called  any  more 
than  he  would  have  had  in  interviewing  "  Stuttering " 
Lane.  But  "Talking"  Campbell  was  full  of  fight,  and 
delighted  when  Captain  Walker  with  forty  Riflemen  was 
ordered  to  follow  and  recover  his  cattle  ;  he  insisted  upon 
going  along.  Young  Frank  Armstrong,  General  Smith's 
step-son,  afterwards  a  very  distinguished  general  himself, 
also  obtained  permission  to  go,  and  Lieutenant  Carr  was 
of  the  party. 

The  Indians  had  more  than  twenty-four  hours'  start,  and 
had  driven  the  cattle  at  headlong  speed  and  left  a  broad 
trail  straight  to  their  stronghold  in  the  mountains,  whither 
Walker  followed  and  found  them  in  their  village,  where 
a  sharp  fight  ensued.  One  Rifleman  was  killed,  and 
Carr  was  wounded  with  an  arrow  in  the  abdomen,  as 
was  Captain  Van  Buren,  who  died  of  his  wound  on  the 
seventh  day  after  he  received  it.  It  seemed  a  mere  inci 
sion,  so  slight  that  neither  Van  Buren  nor  the  surgeons 
felt  any  anxiety  about  it.  He  was  sitting  up,  laughing 
and  talking  with  his  comrades,  and  apparently  well, 
when  an  artery  burst,  and  he  died  in  a  few  minutes. 
This  made  us"  anxious  about  Carr's  wound,  but  he  soon 
recovered  from  it  and  lived  to  be  mainly  instrumental  in 
defeating  Van  Dorn  at  Elk  Horn  in  1862.  The  cattle 
had  been  cut  up  and  distributed,  and  all  Walker  could 
do  was  to  kill  a  few  Indians  and  destroy  their  village. 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  91 


We  pursued  our  march,  and  he  rejoined  us  in  the  course 
of  a  few  days.  Campbell's  herd  was  of  fifteen  hundred 
head,  which  he  was  driving  across  to  California.  The 
night  of  their  halt  at  Eagle  Springs  very  few  of  them  got 
any  water,  and  they  were  driven  on  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
thirty  miles  distant.  At  fifteen  miles  from  the  spring  we 
came  upon  the  first  dead  cattle.  When  within  sight  and 
smell  of  the  river,  they  made  a  grand  rush  for  the  water, 
and  lay  dead  in  piles.  We  afterwards  heard  that  he  got 
safely  to  market  with  the  balance  and  made  a  good 
profit.  We  never  saw  "Talking"  Campbell  again,  or 
any  man  equal  to  him  in  his  peculiar  line. 

We  reached  El  Paso  in  the  very  height  of  the  grape 
season.  Never  had  we  tasted  such  delicious  grapes,  and 
the  wine  made  from  them  was  very  good.  But  our  relish 
for  it  was  not  enhanced  when  we  saw  the  process  of  its 
manufacture.  Under  a  dirty  shed  a  bull's  hide  was  hung 
by  the  legs.  In  it  were  put  many  bushels  of  grapes,  and 
also  a  dirty,  bare-legged  Mexican,  who,  stripped  to  his 
knees,  was  actively  pressing  the  juice  with  his  feet,  which 
had  not  been  intentionally  washed  before  in  a  long  time, 
not  since  the  last  grape  season.  We  were  assured  it 
was  the  best  way  to  make  good  wine,  but  we  did  not 
try  any  of  that.  From  El  Paso  we  went  up  to  Fort  Fil- 
more,  where  for  the  last  time  I  met  my  friend,  Barnard 
Bee.  When  we  parted,  he  gave  me  a  very  curious  and 
massive  ring  made  of  several^  different  colors  of  the  gold 
of  that  country.  It  was  stolen  out  of  my  dressing-case 
soon  after  his  death. 

We  then  retraced  our  route  to  San  Antonio,  laying  in 
a  good  supply  of  grapes  and  watermelons  for  our  mess 
and  a  good  store  also  for  the  wife  of  Captain  Granger,  who 
had  entertained  us  very  kindly  upon  our  upward  march. 
Captain  Granger  commanded  a  small  detachment  of 


92  RECOLLECTIONS 


infantry,  twenty-eight  men,  stationed  at  a  famous  Indian 
crossing  on  Devil's  River.  There  was  no  defence  what 
ever,  and  an  Indian  arrow  could  at  any  time  have  pierced 
the  cotton  walls  of  Mrs.  Granger's  tent,  but  she  seemed 
secure  and  contented  in  her  isolated  home.  There  was 
not  a  white  man  within  hundreds  of  miles.  Soon  after 
we  passed,  a  soldier  was  shot  dead  with  an  arrow,  close 
to  her  tent,  but  no  other  casualty  occurred  there  until 
a  year  or  two  later.  General  Hood,  then  a  lieutenant, 
had  a  hard  fight  with  a  band  of  Indians  thereabouts.  He 
and  several  of  his  men  were  wounded,  and  some  were 
killed ;  the  Indians  got  rather  the  best  of  the  cavalry 
men  that  time.  Hood  was  a  very  daring  and  ambitious 
man,  but  very  unfortunate  as  a  commander.  Devil's 
River  was  far  too  beautiful  a  stream  to  have  so  bad  a 
name.  It  was  very  like  the  Shenandoah  in  the  great 
valley  of  Virginia.  It  was  clear  and  very  grateful  to  the 
sight  and  taste  of  the  weary  and  thirsty  men  and  horses 
who  sought  it  from  far  and  wide. 

While  we  were  at  Fort  Inge,  Colonel  Crittenden 
marched,  with  two  or  three  squadrons,  up  the  Nueces, 
scouting  after  a  large  body  of  Indians.  The  weather 
was  very  hot  and  dry ;  the  springs  were  gone,  and  water 
could  be  found  only  in  the  larger  streams.  He  marched 
from  the  Nueces  across  to  Devil's  River,  and  for  three 
days  neither  man  nor  horse  had  one  drop  of  water.  As 
they  approached  Devil's  River,  they  rode  amongst  some 
thousands  of  wild  turkeys,  trotting  along  the  same  road 
after  water.  Their  wings  were  hanging  off  from  their 
bodies,  and  their  mouths  were  wide  open.  They  paid 
no  attention  to  the  troops,  merely  opening  out  to  let 
them  pass,  and  the  men  had  no  desire  to  molest  them. 
Neither  man  nor  horse  died  of  that  terrible  suffering,  and 
never  was  Devil's  River  more  welcome,  than  when  on  the 
morning  of  the  third  day  they  rode  into  its  pleasant  waters. 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  93 


We  saw  many  upland  plover  upon  our  march,  and 
found  them  always  on  the  burned  places  of  the  prairie. 
They  found  in  them  the  roasted  grass  seed  upon  which 
they  love  to  feed,  and  on  which  they  grow  fat  and 
delicious  in  flavor.  For  the  first  time,  I  shot  the  black 
partridge,  the  moreno,  the  best  of  the  five  varieties  of 
that  bird  I  found  in  this  region.  Their  crops  were 
always  filled  with  small  nuts  resembling  beechnuts,  which 
they  find  at  the  roots  of  a  grass  growing  upon  the  moun 
tain  side.  They  are  very  game,  lie  close  and  fly  strong, 
and  are  tender  and  juicy,  being  one  or  two  ounces 
heavier  than  the  Virginia  partridge. 

Our  march  ended  at  San  Antonio,  where  I  turned  in 
my  artillery  and  went  to  join  my  company  at  Fort 
Mclntosh,  Laredo.  The  headquarters  of  the  regiment 
were  there,  with  one  squadron,  also  seven  or  eight  com 
panies  of  infantry  and  one  company  of  artillery.  Laredo, 
a  Mexican  town,  was  a  mile  away.  Occasionally,  Colonel 
Loring,  one  of  the  kindest  and  best  and  bravest  of  men, 
gave  a  fandango  at  his  quarters,  and  invited  some  of  the 
elite  of  Laredo  to  meet  our  officers  and  their  families. 
But  there  was  no  cordial  association  possible  between 
people  who  did  not  understand  each  other's  language. 
My  resource  was  hunting,  and,  a  few  days  before  Christ 
mas,  Colonel  Loring  proposed  that  we  should  make  up  a 
party  and  go  thirty  miles  or  so  away,  where  we  could  find 
plenty  of  deer,  and  bring  in  some  venison  for  Christmas. 
Captain  Tom  Claiborn  and  Lieutenant  Tom  English  were 
of  the  party. 

In  every  company  there  were  several  hunters,  who 
scouted  the  country  for  game,  and  sometimes  brought 
in  reports  of  Indians.  In  our  party  there  were  seven  of 
us,  who  in  four  days  killed  thirty-six  deer  and  a  lion,  all  of 
which  we  shot  with  the  Mississippi  rifle.  In  one  day  we 


94  RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    VIRGINIAN 

brought  in  sixteen  deer  and  the  lion.  We  lived  upon  the 
tid-bits  and  fore  quarters  of  the  deer,  which  Tom  Clai- 
born  knew  well  how  to  cook  over  a  camp-fire,  while  he 
seasoned  his  culinary  efforts  with  racy  anecdotes  of  his 
experiences  in  Oregon  and  on  the  great  overland  route  of 
the  regiment. 

Late  one  afternoon,  we  had  all  come  in  from  our  day's 
hunt,  when  we  heard  partridges  whistling  close  by.  Lieu 
tenant  English  had  a  handsome  black  setter  puppy,  which 
he  had  taught  some  tricks  of  a  poodle,  and  which  he  had 
named  Toots.  Claiborn  took  Toots  with  him  and  went 
in  pursuit  of  the  partridges.  He  had  a  fine  Manton  gun, 
and  before  sunset  he  bagged  twenty-two  birds,  without 
missing  a  shot.  Toots  behaved  so  well  that  Claiborn 
convinced  English  that  he  ought  to  give  the  dog  to  me, 
which  he  did,  only  stipulating  his  name  should  not  be 
changed.  For  more  than  ten  years,  he  was  one  of  my 
family.  He  had  his  mouth  on  every  kind  of  game  that 
ever  wore  fur  or  feathers.  He  fought  with  my  grey 
hounds  in  many  a  wolf  hunt,  whipped  every  bulldog 
that  ever  attacked  him,  was  bitten  by  a  rattlesnake,  and 
sprinkled  by  a  polecat,  and  had  as  much  sense  as  many 
men,  and  more  principle.  It  was  while  he  was  hunting 
with  me  one  day  that  he  was  bitten  by  a  rattler.  I 
burned  the  place  with  gunpowder,  and  carried  him  as 
quickly  as  I  could  to  a  doctor.  Toots  had  never  seen 
him  before,  but  he  allowed  him  to  cut  away  the  flesh  and 
burn  him  with  caustic,  only  whining  softly  from  the 
extreme  pain.  Some  months  after  this,  he  got  into  a 
fight  and  was  bitten  on  the  same  foot.  I  was  away  when 
it  happened,  and  he  went  by  himself  to  that  same  doctor, 
and  sitting  upon  his  haunches,  as  he  had  been  taught  to 
do,  held  up  the  injured  foot  for  the  doctor's  inspection 
and  treatment. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

Big  Game  Hunting  in  Texas  —  Encounter  with  an  American  Lion  — 
Exciting  Fight  with  a  Wild  Bull— Pierced  with  Cactus  Spikes  — 
Fierce  Battle  with  a  Wounded  Cow  —  On  Recruiting  Service  at 
Carlisle  Barracks— New  Tactics  for  Mounted  Rifles  — The  May 
Family— Sad  Results  of  a  Duel 

rFTER  this  Christmas  hunt,  I  found  occupa 
tion  in  scouting  and  drilling,  and  in  mak 
ing  a  new  system  of  tactics  for  mounted 
troops.  The  general  introduction  of  the 
revolver  and  long-range  rifle  called  for  such  changes  in 
cavalry  tactics  as  would  enable  the  men  to  dismount 
quickly  and  use  their  rifles  on  foot,  and  demanded  also 
single-rank  formations.  The  working  out  of  these  prob 
lems  occupied  my  thoughts  and  interests  for  a  long  time, 
and  I  had  favorable  opportunity  for  testing  every  move 
ment,  having  charge  of  the  instruction  of  my  company, 
and  the  good-will  of  my  intelligent  brother-officers, 
though  occasionally  a  sneer  would  reach  me  from  some 
leather-head  of  the  old  dragoon  regime,  who  did  not 
wish  to  have  to  learn  new  tactics  (they  generally  didn't 
know  much  of  any).  But  I  persevered  with  my  work, 
won  friends  to  it  of  all  who  saw  it  tried,  and  had  the 
satisfaction  of  having  it  adopted  by  the  Secretary  of 
War,  John  B.  Floyd,  who,  being  a  great  hunter  and 
rifleman  himself,  knew  that  weapon  could  only  be 
used  effectively  on  foot,  and  that  the  time  had  come  for 

95 


RECOLLECTIONS 


moving  horsemen  to  where  they  could  be  dismounted 
and  could  thus  render  efficient  service. 

By  this  new  system  of  tactics,  a  troop  of  Mounted 
Rifles  could  be  moving  at  the  gallop,  and  when  the 
trumpet  sounded,  "Dismount  to  fight,"  could  halt,  link 
their  horses,  and  be  handling  their  rifles  in  line  of  bat 
tle  in  seven  seconds.  McClellan,  who  had  been  in 
specting  the  cavalry  systems  of  Europe,  wrote  me  warm 
congratulations  upon  my  great  success.  The  tactics 
were  used  in  both  armies  during  the  Civil  War,  and 
have  been  universally  adopted  in  the  Indian  fighting 
upon  the  plains,  and  have  very  recently  been  embodied 
in  the  New  Tactics. 

As  I  have  said,  hunting  was  my  only  pleasure  in 
Texas.  In  that  day  there  were  no  settlements  upon  that 
vast  region  between  the  Nueces  and  the  Rio  Grande. 
It  was  a  great  pasture  for  thousands  of  wild  horses,  and 
wild  cattle,  deer,  antelope,  and  every  game  bird  we  know 
of,  and  every  sort  of  predatory  beast.  The  tigers,  or 
great,  spotted  panthers,  as  large  sometimes  as  Bengal 
tigers,  and  the  tawny,  maneless  lions,  and  many  small 
varieties  of  the  cat  tribe  abounded  there.  Nowhere, 
save  in  South  Africa,  were  such  quantities  of  large  game 
to  be  found. 

One  day  while  patrolling  that  region,  we  encamped 
on  sweet  water  in  a  grassy  valley,  and  in  the  evening  I 
went  out  for  venison,  having  told  the  guide,  Juan  Gal- 
van,  a  famous  Indian  scout,  to  follow  me.  When  about 
a  mile  from  camp  I  saw  a  deer  and  two  fawns,  as  I 
thought  them  to  be,  enter  the  chaparral  before  me.  I 
galloped  rapidly  around  to  the  other  side  of  the  timber, 
to  get  a  shot  at  the  game  as  it  emerged  from  it,  when 
what  was  my  delight  to  see  a  large  lion  come  sauntering 
out  on  the  prairie,  moving  up  the  wind  with  his  nose 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  97 


well  up  and  his  long  tail  brushing  the  grass  as  he  walked 
slowly  along.  The  breeze  blew  fresh  and  the  grass 
muffled  my  horse's  tracks,  as  I  cantered  up  to  within 
fifty  paces.  Then  I  halted  and  drew  a  fine  sight  upon 
him  behind  his  shoulder,  but  my  horse  moved,  and  I 
had  to  lower  my  rifle.  I  had  just  quieted  him  and  taken 
aim  again,  when  the  guide  with  a  clatter  came  galloping 
up  behind  me.  The  lion,  surprised,  wheeled  toward 
me,  when  I  dashed  at  him  with  a  shout  which  made  him 
turn  and  bound  away.  I  tried  to  close,  and  get  a  run 
ning  shot,  but  he  outran  my  slow  troop  horse  and  went 
away  with  great  leaps  till  he  reached  the  chaparral.  Had 
my  rifle  been  a  Winchester,  or  had  I  been  upon  my 
own  horse,  I  would  have  dismounted  and  taken  a  sure 
shot,  but  on  a  previous  day  this  brute  had  run  off  from 
me  when  I  dismounted  to  shoot,  and  I  did  not  feel  jus 
tified  in  being  left  alone  to  encounter  that  great  beast 
with  a  Mississippi  rifle.  I  was  greatly  provoked  with 
the  guide,  but  he  had  run  up  to  help  me,  was  a  very 
daring  fellow,  and  very  fond  of  me. 

Soon  after  this,  the  grass  near  Fort  Mclntosh  being 
used  up,  it  was  necessary  to  send  our  horses  down  the 
river  for  fresh  pasturage,  so  that  they  might  be  in  con 
dition  for  the  summer  scouting.  Tom  Claiborn  was 
captain  of  B  Company,  and  Llewellyn  Jones,  captain  of 
F  Company.  Claiborn 's  wife  and  children  were  domi 
ciled  in  the  garrison,  and  Jones'  health  was  infirm,  so  I 
took  the  squadron  two  days'  march  down  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  we  made  a  comfortable  camp,  and  grazed  our 
horses  and  hunted  for  more  than  a  month.  We  were  too 
far  from  the  fort  to  draw  our  fresh  meat  and  rations. 
Wild  cattle  abounded  about  us,  and  each  company  had 
good  hunters,  and  every  night  they  brought  in  fat  beeves, 
unbranded  and  as  wild  and  savage  as  any  other  wild 


98  RECOLLECTIONS 

beasts  in  that  region.  When  Mexico  dethroned  the  last 
Emperor,  Iturbide,  and  established  a  republic,  the  gar 
risons  in  what  is  now  Texas  were  all  withdrawn.  The 
Indians  then  poured  in  upon  the  large  ranches,  mur 
dered  the  people,  and  turned  the  stock  loose.  These 
had  increased  and  multiplied  till  the  whole  of  the  region 
between  the  Rio  Grande  and  the  Nueces  swarmed  with 
wild  horses  and  cattle,  and  one  day  I  encountered  a 
small  herd  of  wild  asses,  as  wild  as  zebras  and  very 
active. 

I  had  heard  so  much  of  the  fierceness  and  activity  of 
the  wild  cattle,  that  I  desired  to  be  able  to  tell  by  expe 
rience  about  the  truth  of  these  reports;  so  one  morning, 
at  daybreak,  I  set  out  with  Juan  Galvan  and  two  Rifle 
men  with  pack  mules  to  bring  in  the  meat  we  expected 
to  kill.  Juan  soon  found  the  fresh  trail  of  an  enormous 
bull.  His  tracks  were  easily  followed,  for  amidst  the 
thousands  his  were  larger  than  any.  It  was  about  eleven 
o'clock  when  Juan,  who  was  riding  at  a  fox  trot  just  in 
my  front,  threw  up  his  rifle  and  fired  at  a  huge,  white 
bull  who  broke  out  of  the  brush  and  ran  off  at  a  rapid 
gait.  After  two  hours  of  hot  pursuit,  we  came  up  with 
this  monarch  of  the  herds  in  a  thick  clump  of  bushes, 
where  Juan  and  I  dismounted,  and,  running  up  to  within 
thirty  or  forty  paces,  fired  into  his  great,  white  body. 
The  brush  was  too  thick  for  us  to  pick  our  shots.  He 
ran  out  near  the  Riflemen,  both  of  whom  fired  at  him, 
but  he  kept  on  his  way  at  a  swinging  gait.  The  blood 
in  great  splashes  fell  upon  the  broad  cactus  leaves,  and 
made  the  trail  easy  to  follow,  and  excited  us,  as  the 
sight  of  blood  will  affect  any  hunter. 

Again,  after  half  an  hour's  pursuit,  we  came  upon  our 
bull,  and  as  before,  Juan  and  I  dismounted  and  ran  up 
to  put  two  more  balls  into  him.  There  was  more  blood 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  99 


now  upon  the  trail,  and  we  were  more  eager,  so  that 
when  we  found  him  the  third  time  at  bay,  I  resolved  to 
make  a  sure  shot,  and,  running  closer  to  him  than  ever 
before,  delivered  it.  Old  Juan  was  too  smart  to  dis 
mount,  though  I  had  not  observed  this.  As  my  rifle 
cracked,  I  heard  the  bushes  rattling,  and  the  men  cried 
out,  "Look  out,  Lieutenant!  He  is  charging  you!" 
I  wheeled  and  ran  for  my  horse,  but  the  bull  was  too 
close  for  me  to  stop  to  mount,  so  as  I  heard  him  close 
at  my  heels,  I  turned  suddenly  towards  a  huge  cactus  I 
was  passing  and  sprang  into  it,  struggling  through  it  and 
tumbling  flat  upon  the  ground  upon  the  other  side.  In 
all  my  life  I  had  never  been  so  terrified,  and  I  was  so 
tormented  by  the  great  cactus  spikes  which  had  pierced 
my  body,  that  for  an  instant  I  would  have  welcomed  the 
bull  or  anything  else  that  would  have  relieved  me  of 
my  misery. 

After  some  moments,  I  ventured  to  arise  and  investi 
gate  the  whereabouts  of  that  animal,  an  action  which  I 
immediately  regretted;  for  he  instantly  saw  me  and  made 
another  dash  for  me,  the  men  crying  as  he  did  so, 
"He's  charging  again!"  I  whirled  through  another 
cactus,  the  twin  of  the  one  I  had  just  left,  and  lay  as 
flat  and  still  as  a  dead  man;  and  I  almost  wished  that  I 
was  dead,  for  in  my  flight  I  had  acquired  a  second 
supply  of  cactus  spikes,  which  left  no  part  of  my  body 
unprovided  for.  They  are  of  the  size  of  a  large  darning- 
needle,  with  barbed  points,  and  when  one  is  pulled  out 
it  leaves  the  barb  in  to  mark  the  place. 

Juan,  having  more  sense  and  experience  with  bulls 
than  I,  had  never  taken  his  foot  out  of  the  stirrup,  and 
now  dashed  off  after  my  horse,  which  had  availed  itself 
of  the  opportunity  to  run  away.  The  Riflemen,  too,  had 
retired  to  a  safe  distance,  so  that  when,  after  a  longer 


100  RECOLLECTIONS 


delay  than  before,  I  arose  very  cautiously  and  inspected 
the  field,  I  alone  remained  upon  it.  My  rifle  was 
empty,  and  all  of  my  friends  were  gone,  and,  utterly 
demoralized,  I  stood  wondering  what  had  ever  induced 
me  to  imagine  that  I  wished  to  hunt  a  wild  bull.  One 
cheerful  fact  gave  me  courage :  the  bull  was  gone  with 
the  rest,  but  alas !  the  cactus  spikes  remained. 

I  reloaded  my  rifle,  picked  out  some  of  the  most 
accessible  of  them,  and  tried  to  rally  my  spirits  and 
look  cheerful  as  Juan  rode  up,  leading  my  horse  and  cry 
ing  out  in  a  gay  voice,  "  Vamos !  " 

"Vamos  where?"  said  I. 

"For  el  toro." 

"Damn  the  toro,"  I  responded  heartily,  as  with  a 
poor  assumption  of  lively  acquiescence,  I  took  my  seat 
where  the  late  General  Pope  had  his  headquarters.  As 
a  good  many  spikes  still  remained,  that  saddle  was  far 
from  being  a  downy  pillow.  But  I  wriggled  and  twisted 
and  managed  to  keep  up,  and  we  soon  emerged  from 
the  chaparral  into  a  grassy  glade  where  a  herd  of  cattle 
had  been  startled  by  our  approach.  We  drew  up  all 
abreast,  and  fired  into  the  herd.  I  struck  a  great  brin 
dled  bull,  but  permitted  him  to  pass  on,  for  just  then 
bulls  were  a  drug  in  my  market.  Juan,  however,  dashed 
off,  whirling  his  lasso,  and  returned  in  ten  minutes,  say 
ing,  "We  got  him."  Two  of  our  shots  had  struck  a 
beautiful,  young  sorrel  cow,  breaking  her  fore  leg.  Juan 
having  lassoed  her  and  tied  her  to  the  big,  swinging 
limb  of  a  mesquite,  proposed  going  on  after  the  bull, 
but  I  preferred  to  remain  and  look  after  the  safety  of 
the  cow,  and  I  told  Juan  that  before  following  up  the  bull, 
I  desired  him  to  examine  the  rope  and  make  sure  the 
cow  was  securely  tied.  As  we  approached,  she  charged 
madly  at  us  twice,  but  being  thrown  violently  back  upon 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  101 


her  haunches,  she  ceased  this  and  remained  sullenly 
quiet.  At  last  Juan  slipped  off  his  horse  and  went  care 
fully  around  the  tree,  followed  slowly  by  the  cow.  Moran, 
one  of  the  Riflemen,  a  large,  handsome  fellow,  had  dis 
mounted,  and  stood  leaning  against  his  horse,  holding 
Juan's  rifle  and  his  own  in  his  hand.  Old  Dewey,  a 
very  phlegmatic  Vermonter,  was  sitting  lazily  in  his 
saddle,  his  rifle.across  his  pommel.  I  was  quite  alert, 
and  ready  to  move  on  short  notice,  should  the  cow  de 
cide  to  charge  again,  which  she  suddenly  did.  The 
rope  broke  and  she  dashed  at  Moran,  goring  his  horse 
in  the  flank.  He  dropped  his  rifles,  and  sprang  up  a 
tree.  She  then  struck  old  Dewey's  horse,  lifting  him 
so  that  his  rider  pitched  over  his  head  and,  turning  a 
somersault,  landed  upon  his  feet,  rifle  in  hand.  Turn 
ing,  he  delivered  a  quick  shot  in  the  cow's  face,  and 
then  made  for  a  tree,  which  he  lost  no  time  in  climb 
ing.  The  cow  now  had  the  field  to  herself,  for  by  the 
time  Dewey  was  safely  ensconced,  I  was  a  rifle-shot 
away,  where  a  three-legged  cow  could  not  catch  me. 
Finally,  Juan  slipped  down  from  his  perch  and  gather 
ing  up  his  rifle  mounted  his  horse,  and,  riding  up  to  the 
animal,  shot  her  in  the  curl  and  ended  the  battle. 

We  butchered  her,  and,  packing  the  mules  with  the 
meat,  sent  the  men  back  to  camp  with  it,  while  Juan 
and  I  took  another  turn  at  our  bull.  We  bounced  him 
out  of  a  thicket  a  little  before  sunset,  ran  him  a  mile, 
and  then  gave  up  the  chase,  and  set  out  for  camp  ten 
miles  away.  It  was  ten  o'clock  before  we  got  in,  and 
I  was  occupied  until  a  late  hour  getting  rid  of  the 
cactus.  Next  morning  I  looked  as  if  I  had  the  measles, 
and  felt  as  if  the  small-pox  had  me.  So  I  declined  to 
resume  the  chase  that  day,  and  kept  my  headquarters 
in  my  tent,  letting  the  indefatigable  Juan  go  out  with  a 


102  RECOLLECTIONS 


fresh  party,  which  found  the  bull  where  we  had  left  off. 
He  charged  them  many  times,  and  finally  fell  by  the 
nineteenth  ball.  He  was  an  enormous  beast,  entirely 
white,  save  his  jet-black  horns  and  hoofs.  I  had  his 
great  hide  for  a  tent  floor.  It  was  all  we  got  of  him, 
for  his  wounds  and  heated  contest  had  spoiled  his 
great  mass  of  fat  meat.  But  it  was  certainly  the  most 
exciting  contest  and  chase  I  ever  enjoyed.  I  discov 
ered  that  day  that  when  a  bull  charges,  he  puts  his  head 
down,  shuts  his  eyes,  and  goes  straight  for  his  enemy; 
but  when  a  cow  makes  the  attack,  she  keeps  her  eyes 
wide  open  and  can't  be  dodged. 

Soon  after  this,  we  were  coming  into  camp  late  one 
evening,  when  suddenly  we  heard  a  wild  bull  come 
moaning  towards  us.  It  is  the  'wildest  sound  imagina 
ble  in  a  lonely  place.  Juan  and  I  leaped  from  our 
horses  and  hastened  to  meet  him,  concealing  ourselves 
behind  a  bush  that  bordered  his  course.  As  we  waited, 
we  could  hear  him  drawing  nearer  and  nearer,  moaning, 
and  crushing  the  gravel  under  his  heavy  tread.  He  had 
come  within  ten  paces  when  as  his  fore  shoulders  emerged 
into  view,  I  whispered,  "  Now !  "  We  both  fired  behind 
his  shoulder,  and  Juan  immediately  ran  for  a  tree,  while 
I,  being  clad  in  a  light  coat,  threw  myself  flat  down 
behind  my  bush.  As  I  lay  there,  I  could  hear  the 
hurried  tramp  of  the  bull,  whether  in  advance  or  retreat 
I  could  not  decide,  and  the  uncertainty  was  painfully 
alarming.  Happily,  he  had  wheeled  and  run  back  at 
our  shot.  The  night  closed  in  dark,  and  Juan  could  not 
follow  him  till  the  moon  rose,  when  he  found  the  bloody 
trail,  but  gave  up  the  chase,  very  properly  ;  for  we  were 
in  a  dangerous  neighborhood. 

After  three  years  of  this  sort  of  frontier  service,  I  was 
appointed  recruiting  officer  at  San  Antonio.  General 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  103 


Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  commanding  the  department 
of  Texas,  was  our  next  neighbor  there,  and  a  very  good 
one  he  was.  That  accomplished  soldier,  Don  Carlos 
Buel,  was  also  stationed  there.  General  George  Mercer 
Brooke,  one  of  the  bravest  men  and  highest  gentlemen 
in  the  service,  died  there.  He  was  my  friend  and  our 
only  kinsman  in  that  wild  country. 

While  in  San  Antonio,  Major  Dick  Howard  and  I 
purchased  a  cattle  ranch  on  the  Cibolo  River,  about 
twenty-five  miles  from  the  town.  The  house  was  an 
unusually  good  one  for  that  time  in  Texas,  being  built 
of  hewn  logs,  well  plastered  and  floored.  It  stood  upon 
a  hill  in  a  fine  grove  overlooking  the  road  from  San 
Antonio  to  the  Gulf.  We  had  fifteen  hundred  head  of 
breeding  cattle,  and  proposed  to  send  into  Mexico  for 
one  hundred  mares,  and  to  raise  mules,  and  I  intended 
to  resign  and  live  on  the  ranch.  But  my  wife's  health 
and  spirits  so  gave  way  under  the  affliction  and  exhaus 
tion  consequent  upon  the  death  of  our  little  daughter, 
that  I  decided,  instead,  to  accept  a  detail  on  the  re 
cruiting  service  which  took  me  to  Carlisle  Barracks, 
Pennsylvania.  When  the  war  broke  out  I  sold  my 
ranch,  doubling  my  money  in  Confederate  gold  bonds. 

On  arriving  at  Carlisle,  then  our  only  cavalry  school, 
Colonel  Charley  May,  the  commandant,  appointed  me 
the  superintendent  of  instruction  and  commandant  of 
the  Post.  The  duty  and  station  were  agreeable  and 
comfortable.  All  of  the  young  cavalry  graduates  from 
West  Point  reported  to  me  for  duty,  and  I  thus  became 
well  acquainted  with  many  of  the  brightest  young  men 
of  the  army.  Fitz  Lee,  Averill,  Lomax,  Big  Jim  Major, 
"Red  Jackson,"  and  many  others  were  there,  whom  it 
was  my  fortune  to  serve  with  or  against  in  the  great  war, 
which  none  of  us  then  realized  was  so  near  at  hand. 


104  RECOLLECTIONS 


The  shooting  about  there  was  very  good.  Mr.  Johns 
ton  Moore,  an  excellent  gentleman,  a  real  sportsman, 
and  the  owner  of  many  farms  in  the  vicinity,  was  often 
my  companion.  A  comfortable  dinner  at  his  town  resi 
dence,  with  a  bottle  of  good  champagne,  made  an  ap 
propriate  ending  to  many  a  pleasant  day's  sport.  At 
that  time  he  had  a  beautiful  daughter,  who  was  a  great 
favorite  socially,  especially  with  the  young  officers.  No 
man's  lot  seemed  happier  than  his.  Twenty  years 
afterward  I  met  him  at  the  Virginia  Springs.  Time 
and  sorrow  had  written  deep  lines  upon  his  manly  face. 
His  daughter  was  dead,  his  son  had  fallen  in  the  war, 
and  many  griefs  had  been  his  portion,  but  the  gentle, 
affectionate  nature  was  with  him  still,  and  I  was  tempted 
to  go  with  him  once  again  over  the  green  fields  and 
wooded  hills  of  the  Cumberland  valley,  where  so  often, 
with  our  guns  and  dogs,  we  had  borne  each  other  com 
pany.  But  it  would  not  have  been  the  same,  for  sorrow 
ful  memories  of  the  years  which  lay  between  would  have 
dimmed  the  sunshine  of  the  reunion  for  us. 

While  at  Carlisle  I  was  authorized  by  Secretary  of 
War  Floyd  to  prepare  and  publish  the  "Tactics  for 
Mounted  Rifles."  Major  Buel  aided  me  to  procure 
personal  interviews  with  the  Secretary,  who  entered 
earnestly  into  a  system  which  facilitated  the  mounted 
riflemen  in  going  effectively  into  action;  and  at  that 
time  all  of  our  so-called  cavalrymen  were  mounted  rifle 
men.  My  clandestine  interviews  with  the  Secretary  were 
not  discovered  in  the  Red  Tape  Department  until  the 
"Tactics"  was  adopted  and  published,  when  the  admo 
nition  was  administered  from  the  chief  of  that  department 
to  "observe  the  prescribed  channels  of  correspondence 
in  future."  This  much  amused  Buel  and  me. 

This  suggested  to  me  the  expediency  of  merging  the 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  105 


five  regiments  of  mounted  troops  in  one  corps.  The 
three  senior  regiments  united  in  a  memorial  to  Congress 
to  arrange  us  accordingly,  but  it  was  not  done  till  the 
great  war  put  aside  all  personal  considerations,  for  ex 
pediency's  sake,  and  in  both  armies  the  mounted  troops 
were  all  classed  as  cavalry, —  a  misnomer,  if  by  cavalry 
we  mean  soldiers  who  fight  on  horseback  ;  for  it  is 
well  known  that  the  troopers  of  Stuart  and  Hampton, 
Van  Dorn  and  Forrest,  all  dismounted  to  fight.  Sa'bres 
have  long  been  laid  aside  except  by  holiday  soldiers, 
not  one  in  fifty  of  whom  is  a  swordsman.  It  was  usual 
for  our  men  in  the  Rifles  to  put  away  their  swords  when 
ever  they  went  upon  a  hostile  expedition,  and  in  our 
great  war,  in  which  many  thousands  of  men  were  killed 
and  wounded,  our  surgeons  were  rarely  troubled  by 
sabre  cuts. 

Colonel  Charley  May,  our  commandant,  was  a  "  Light 
Dragoon,"  although,  being  six  feet  four  inches  tall  and 
of  tremendous  frame,  he  was  fitter  for  the  heavy  cavalry. 
His  brother  Julian  was  in  my  regiment,  and  was  a  re 
markably  handsome  man.  He,  too,  was  over  six  feet  in 
stature.  Those  Mays  were  extraordinary  men  in  their 
physical  and  mental  characteristics.  Five  of  the  brothers 
averaged  over  six  feet  three  inches  in  height,  and  all 
were  men  of  marked  character.  The  Honorable  Henry 
May,  a  member  of  Congress  from  Baltimore,  was  a  man 
of  ability,  and  of  most  kind  and  courtly  manners.  In 
the  exciting  times  incident  to  the  disrupting  of  the 
government,  Mr.  May  stood  up  manfully  for  the  rights 
of  the  people.  I  believe  he  was  imprisoned  for  it.  I 
was  thrown  intimately  with  Colonel  May  for  two  years, 
at  Carlisle  Barracks,  and  on  me  devolved  the  sad  duty 
of  paying  the  last  honors  of  a  dead  soldier  to  his  brother 
Julian. 


106  RECOLLECTIONS 


Julian  May's  history  was  a  very  sad  one.  He  was 
the  youngest  of  the  sons  of  Dr.  May,  a  leading  phy 
sician  of  Washington  in  his  day.  Before  he  was  twenty- 
one,  Julian  became  involved  in  a  difficulty  with  young 
Cochran.  Both  were  connected  with  well-known  fami 
lies  in  Washington,  and  the  duel  was  the  recognized 
mode  of  settling  personal  difficulties  between  gentle 
men.  This  barbarous  custom  had  the  sanction  of  the 
highest  men  of  our  country  in  those  days,  and  it  was 
considered  inevitable  that  these  two  youths  should 
resort  to  it.  So  they  crossed  the  river  into  Virginia, 
and  fought  with  rifles  at  forty  paces.  Cochran  was  shot 
in  the  head,  and  died  instantly,  and  Julian  May  became 
a  fugitive,  his  life  and  happiness  ruined.  Those  who 
knew  him  best  realized  that  he  never  recovered  from 
this  terrible  experience. 

General  Jackson  had  then  retired  to  the  shades  of  the 
Hermitage,  where  he  was  passing  the  evening  of  his 
days.  He  was  a  friend  of  the  May  family,  and  natu 
rally  sympathized  with  young  Julian  in  his  sad  position. 
At  his  request,  the  position  of  lieutenant  was  given  the 
young  man  in  the  regiment  of  Mounted  Riflemen,  then 
just  organized  in  time  for  the  Mexican  War.  From 
1848  to  1860,  when  his  death  occurred,  Julian  May  was 
in  all  the  vicissitudes  of  the  service  of  that  regiment, 
and  his  genial  and  kindly  nature  made  him  a  favorite 
with  his  comrades  throughout  the  army.  His  remarka 
ble  personal  beauty  was  enhanced  by  a  courtly  breeding 
and  bearing  which  distinguished  him  in  every  circle  he 
entered.  He  died  suddenly  at  Tucalote,  while  returning 
from  Santa  F£  to  his  post  at  Fort  Union.  We  laid  him 
in  the  little  soldiers'  cemetery  on  the  hillside  overlook 
ing  the  Post.  I  commanded  the  escort  at  his  funeral, 
and  read  the  service  of  the  Church  at  his  grave. 


OF   A    VIRGINIAN  107 


Charley  May  had  long  been  married  to  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  George  Law,  of  New  York,  when  the  war  broke  out. 
He  then  resigned  from  the  army  and  retired  to  private 
life.  While  his  sympathies  were  with  his  own  people 
in  the  South,  he  could  not  array  himself  against  the 
people  of  his  wife,  who  was  a  very  admirable  lady,  to 
whom  he  was  much  attached. 

William  May,  of  the  Navy,  was  the  only  one  of  the 
brothers  not  over  six  feet  in  stature.  He  was  highly 
esteemed  in  the  service,  and  had  the  manhood  of  his 
race.  Captain  William  Lewis  Maury,  of  the  Confed 
erate  cruiser  Georgia,  who  was  his  shipmate  in  the  old 
Navy,  told  me  that  on  one  occasion  May  was  sent  off  in 
command  of  a  boat  which  was  wrecked  upon  a  reef. 
They  found  refuge  upon  the  rocks,  to  which  they  clung 
till  a  launch  from  the  ship  came  to  their  rescue.  There 
was  not  room  in  the  launch  for  all  of  the  men  to  go  at 
once,  so  May  and  part  of  the  crew  got  aboard  of  her, 
but  as  she  pulled  away  from  the  reef,  he  saw  some  of 
his  men  still  on  the  rocks,  and  before  he  could  be  pre 
vented  he  sprang  overboard  and  swam  back  to  cast  his 
lot  with  them.  They  were  a  gallant  race,  those  Mays; 
the  men  handsome  and  proud,  and  the  women  beautiful. 

While  at  Carlisle,  I  was  appointed  a  member  of  a 
board  of  cavalry  officers,  which  decided  upon  a  uniform 
style  of  horse  equipage  for  the  army.  Colonels  Joseph 
E.  Johnston,  Robert  E.  Lee,  Andrew  Porter,  and  several 
others,  were  members  of  the  board  of  which  Colonel 
Philip  Saint  George  Cooke  was  president.  After  six  or 
seven  weeks  of  careful  examination  of  every  item,  we 
adopted  the  Cossack  saddle  brought  over  by  McClellan, 
and  now  known  by  his  name.  It  has  stood  the  test  of 
all  these  years  of  service,  and  is  generally  used  by  all 
frontiersmen. 


CHAPTER   IX 

Across  the  Plains  from  Kansas  to  New  Mexico  —  Incidents  of  the  Long 
Journey  —  A  Paradise  for  the  Hunter  of  Antelope  and  Buffalo  — 
A  Buffalo  Hunt  ending  in  a  Sad  Tragedy  —  Skirmishes  with  Hostile 
Indians  —  A  Surprise  and  Defeat  for  the  Comanches  —  The  Record 
of  the  Rifles 

IEAN WHILE  the  Rifles  had  been  transferred 
to  the  department  of  New  Mexico,  when  I 
was  appointed  regimental  adjutant,  and  or 
dered  to  Fort  Union,  the  headquarters  of 
the  regiment.  A  number  of  officers  en  route  to  their 
commands,  and  two  hundred  cavalry  recruits  from  Car 
lisle  went  along  with  us,  and  at  Fort  Leavenworth  a 
remount  of  four  hundred  horses  was  turned  over  to  me, 
to  be  distributed  to  the  companies  at  Fort  Union.  We 
remained  at  Fort  Leavenworth  just  long  enough  to 
organize  our  command  and  prepare  it  for  the  difficult 
duty  of  convoying  nearly  five  hundred  young  cavalry 
horses  across  the  desert  and  through  the  range  of  pred 
atory  Indians  for  eight  hundred  miles.  The  recruits 
had  been  in  active  drill  at  Carlisle  for  some  months, 
and  we  had  a  fine  set  of  young  officers  not  long  from 
West  Point,  who  were  assigned  to  duty  with  the  squadron, 
which  was  mounted  on  the  best  broken  of  the  remount 
horses,  so  that  everything  was  soon  in  fair  marching 
order.  The  horses  which  were  not  under  saddle  were 
driven  out  in  strings,  each  string  being  made  up  of 
thirty  animals  and  placed  in  charge  of  its  own  squad 

108 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A   VIRGINIAN  109 

of  men.  The  picket  rope  of  the  string  was  secured  to 
one  end  of  the  wagon,  in  which  was  hauled  the  tent  of 
the  squad,  with  their  clothing  and  rations,  etc.  A  pair 
of  heavy,  steady  wheel  horses  were  hitched  to  the  wagon 
and  driven  by  the  teamster.  Then  came  the  led  horses 
in  spans,  each  secured  by  a  short  halter  to  the  picket 
rope.  The  string  was  led  off  by  a  pair  of  steady  leaders, 
hitched  by  a  swingletree  to  the  end  of  the  picket  rope, 
the  whole  thus  presenting  a  team  of  about  twelve  or 
fifteen  pairs  of  horses.  The  management  of  this  team 
required  no  little  skill  on  the  part  of  the  drivers  and 
outriders  of  the  squad.  In  the  party  there  were  a  dozen 
or  more  of  these  strings,  and  they  made  the  Indians' 
mouths  water,  I  suspect,  but  they  never  got  a  horse. 

In  this  respect  we  were  more  fortunate  than  an  expe 
dition  which  had  preceded  us  the  year  before,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Cooke.  When  he  reached 
the  Comanche  country,  old  Mancho,  the  chief  of  the 
tribe,  rode  up  one  day,  making  overtures  of  peace,  and 
requesting  an  interview,  which  Colonel  Cooke  granted. 
Mancho  inquired  of  him  by  whose  permission  he  under 
took  to  travel  across  the  country,  and  what  his  object 
there  was.  Cooke  replied  that  he  came  by  permission 
of  the  Great  White  Chief  in  Washington,  and  that  he 
only  wished  to  travel  across  the  country  that  he  might 
show  it  to  his  young  men.  To  this  Mancho  retorted 
that  it  was  his  country,  and  neither  the  Great  White 
Chief  nor  anybody  else  had  the  right  to  ride  over  it 
without  his  permission,  but,  if  Cooke  would  give  him 
a  supply  of  provisions  and  whiskey  and  tobacco,  he  was 
willing  to  allow  him  to  proceed.  Cooke  coolly  told  him 
to  "go  to  Guinea,"  or  its  equivalent,  adding  that  he 
would  give  him  nothing,  and  would  ride  over  the  coun 
try  as  often  as  he  pleased;  and  so  the  interview  ended. 


110  RECOLLECTIONS 


That  night,  while  all  the  camp  was  wrapped  in  slumber, 
the  Comanches  swooped  down  upon  it,  dashing  their 
horses  through  it  at  full  speed,  shaking  their  blankets 
and  buffalo  robes,  and  howling  like  demons.  As  a 
matter  of  course,  every  animal  in  Cooke's  command, 
rendered  frantic  by  the  uproar,  stampeded,  and  next 
morning  he  found  himself  on  foot  in  the  midst  of  the 
plains.  He  remained  there  until  able  to  collect  enough 
horses  to  pull  his  wagons  to  Fort  Union,  and  he  proba 
bly  remembered  Mancho  in  wrath  until  his  life's  end. 

Such  an  experience  would  have  been  especially  un 
fortunate  for  us,  who  had  in  our  party  women  and 
children;  for  several  families  of  officers  living  in  New 
Mexico  had  joined  our  command.  Happily,  as  I  have 
said,  we  made  the  trip  in  safety,  and  we  marched  away 
from  Fort  Leavenworth  before  the  middle  of  July,  in 
fine  health  and  spirits.  Our  route  lay  through  Kansas, 
then  in  the  full  richness  of  its  summer  verdure,  across 
the  Kansas  and  Kaw  rivers,  across  the  Walnut  Creek, 
Pawnee  Fork  at  Fort  Larned,  the  Arkansas  at  old  Fort 
Atkinson,  and  thence  by  the  Cimarron  to  Fort  Union. 

I  had  bought  in  St.  Louis,  for  the  use  of  my  family, 
one  of  those  excellent  carriages  constructed  for  travel 
on  the  plains,  and  the  quartermaster  at  Fort  Leaven- 
worth  gave  us  all  the  wagons  we  needed  for  transport 
ing  our  furniture  and  supplies.  After  we  got  beyond 
the  settlements,  wood  was  very  rarely  seen,  but  for  fuel 
we  had  an  abundance  of  "buffalo-chips."  Our  water 
supply  was  far  from  what  we  should  have  desired,  but  we 
had  to  take  it  as  we  found  it,  one  day  out  of  a  river  and 
the  next  out  of  a  mud  hole.  We  were,  fortunately,  well 
supplied  with  charcoal  filters,  and  at  night  we  would 
set  a  bucket  of  muddy  water  on  the  table,  drop  the 
charcoal  ball  into  it,  and  convey  the  rubber  tube  into 


OF   A    VIRGINIAN  111 


the  mouth  of  a  demijohn  on  the  floor,  which  was  sewed 
into  a  blanket  cover  and  always  kept  thoroughly  wet. 
Next  morning  the  bucket  would  be  empty,  save  for  a 
liberal  supply  of  dirt,  and  the  demijohn  would  be  filled 
with  clear,  cool  water. 

Our  march  across  the  plains  was  very  interesting. 
There  were  six  or  eight  travelling  carriages  for  the 
families  of  the  married  officers.  These  followed  the 
advance  guard,  and  were  followed  in  their  turn  by  the 
Mounted  Riflemen,  close  behind  whom  came  the  strings 
of  horses,  and  then  the  rear  guard.  The  herd  of  cattle 
and  the  milch  cows  were  sent  ahead  early  in  the  morn 
ing,  under  the  care  of  a  small  escort.  Extraordinary 
vigilance  was  necessary,  for  any  Indians,  after  passing 
the  Kaws  and  Osages,  might  be  hostile,  and  four  hun 
dred  fine  young  horses,  besides  some  hundreds  of  mules, 
would  prove  a  great  temptation.  We  had  some  grouse 
shooting,  until  Council  Grove  was  passed,  where  we 
saw  the  last  inhabited  prairies  and  entered  fairly  upon 
the  great  American  Desert,  the  home  of  the  buffalo, 
the  wolf,  the  antelope,  and  the  wild  Indian. 

Orton,  the  wagon-master,  a  six-foot  plainsman,  was  a 
good  hunter,  and  my  constant  companion  in  my  many 
excursions  out  upon  the  flanks  of  the  column.  My  rifle 
was  a  three-grooved  Harper's  Ferry  barrel,  mounted  by 
the  gunsmith  at  Carlisle,  in  a  common  shot-gun  stock, 
with  a  wooden  ramrod  and  horn  sights.  One  day  I 
surprised  Orton  by  cutting  down  a  fine  antelope  at  a 
great  distance.  I  told  him  to  step  it  off,  because  his 
legs  were  long  and  would  leave  no  occasion  for  cavil  at 
short  measure.  Orton  paced  four  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  paces  to  the  antelope.  Next  day  I  brought  down  .a 
wolf  at  two  hundred  and  twenty  paces. 

One  morning  Orton  got  off  before  I  could  leave  the 


112  RECOLLECTIONS 


command.  We  were  then  in  the  Comanche  range, 
and  must  needs  be  as  alert  as  possible.  When  at  last 
I  was  ready  to  set  out,  I  rode  a  long  way  to  look  for 
him,  but  could  see  nothing  of  him.  Suddenly  I  saw 
three  men  galloping  towards  me  from  the  direction  of 
the  column,  and,  supposing  they  were  messengers  sent 
for  me,  I  went  to  meet  them.  We  were  in  a  rolling 
country,  and  as  I  rose  on  each  ridge  I  noticed  that  the 
horsemen  veered  off  from  me.  My  horse,  Black  Jack, 
a  famous  hunter,  became  much  excited.  He  quickened 
his  pace  until  he  seemed  to  devour  the  ground.  At  last, 
as  I  mounted  a  ridge,  I  came  upon  three  Indians  cross 
ing  it  at  full  speed,  about  two  hundred  yards  from  me. 
I  did  not  pursue  them,  but  dismounted,  and  fired  at  the 
only  antelope  I  had  seen  that  day.  He  was  several 
hundred  yards  off,  and  I  was  flustered  by  the  Indians, 
and  by  the  necessity  of  reloading  before  they  could 
get  to  me,  but  on  glancing  towards  them  I  saw  that  on 
hearing  the  crack  of  the  rifle,  they  had  plied  their  quirts 
and  heels,  and  were  making  all  speed  in  the  other 
direction. 

I  then  hastened  to  where  I  saw,  several  miles  away, 
the  dust  of  our  column,  and  was  surprised  to  learn  on 
reaching  it  that  nobody  had  seen  the  Indians,  nor  had 
Orton  returned.  So  I  rode  out  again  to  look  for  him, 
and  finally  found  him,  but  he  had  not  seen  the  Indians 
either,  until  I  pointed  them  out  to  him,  dismounted, 
on  the  crest  of  a  ridge  some  miles  distant,  whence  they 
watched  our  column.  Observing  our  herders  in  charge 
of  the  milch  cattle  resting  on  a  hill  not  far  off,  we  joined 
them,  and  found  the  Indians  had  been  after  them.  The 
lazy  rascals  had  put  their  rifles  into  a  wagon,  and  were 
sauntering  along  at  ease,  when  all  at  once  the  Indians 
came  down  upon  them,  and  insulted  them  by  rubbing 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  113 


their  arrows  under  their  noses,  turning  their  pockets  out, 
taking  their  tobacco,  handkerchiefs,  etc.,  and  were 
galloping  off  triumphantly  when  they  found  me  in  their 
path.  That  night  we  doubled  our  guard  about  camp, 
but  saw  no  more  of  them  until  we  came  to  Walnut  Creek, 
where  we  found  them  shooting  buffalo. 

Our  first  view  of  the  buffalo  was  very  exciting.  There 
were  thousands  of  them,  and  we  were  marching  through 
them  for  three  days,  at  thirty  miles  a  day,  and  all  day 
and  all  night  the  air  resounded  with  their  bellowing. 
The  first  one  I  shot  lay  down  to  die,  and  as  I  desired 
to  get  his  tongue  out,  I  dismounted,  and  was  marching 
bravely  up  to  the  young  bull,  when  all  at  once  he  sprang 
up  and  dashed  at  me.  I  turned  and  ran  toward  my 
horse,  and  as  I  mounted  I  saw  the  bull  flat  on  his  back, 
his  legs  quivering  in  the  air.  Being  dead  sure  enough 
this  time,  I  got  his  tongue  without  any  further  trouble 
or  fright.  Many  buffalo  hunters  had  this  experience 
with  their  first  bull. 

John  Omahundro,  of  Louisa  County,  Virginia,  was 
an  active  scout  for  General  Jeb  Stuart  during  the  late 
war.  After  the  war,  he  went  back  to  his  wild  life  upon 
the  plains.  He  was  a  remarkably  handsome  and  pleas 
ing  young  fellow,  and  very  expert  with  his  lasso  and 
arms.  He  went  about  the  country  with  Carver,  the 
shooter,  and  was  widely  known  as  "Texas  Jack." 

One  night  in  Montgomery,  Alabama,  General  John 
G.  Walker,  "Texas  Jack,"  and  I  were  seated  together, 
talking  of  our  experiences  on  the  plains,  and  found  we 
had  all  had  the  same  with  our  first  buffalo.  Jack  had 
leaned  over  his  and  struck  his  knife  into  him,  when  the 
beast  sprang  up  and  chased  him  to  the  wagon,  against 
which  he  put  his  head  and  fell  dead  just  as  Jack  had 
succeeded  in  putting  it  between  them.  Unlike  the  ox 


114  RECOLLECTIONS 


or  the  horse,  the  buffalo  springs  upon  all  four  feet  at 
once. 

We  had  with  us  a  smart  young  sergeant,  Bowman  by 
name,  who  was  my  companion  on  this  run,  and  re 
quested  permission  to  go  with  me  when  I  should  make 
another.  Next  morning  I  saw  a  herd  of  buffalo  grazing 
not  far  off  from  our  camp,  and  was  about  to  ride  after 
them  when  Sergeant  Bowman  came  up  and,  touching  his 
cap,  asked,  "Will  the  Captain  permit  me  to  go  with 
him?" 

"  Certainly,  Sergeant,  I  would  like  to  have  you  with 
me."  He  then  inquired,  "Will  the  Captain  permit 
Alphonse  to  go,  too?  " 

"No,"  I  said.  "He  can't  manage  his  horse  or  his 
pistol,  and  he  may  shoot  himself  or  some  one  else." 
But  Bowman  urged  that  he  would  keep  close  by  him, 
and  look  after  him,  and  finally  I  unfortunately  yielded, 
and  said,  "Well,  let  him  come  on."  Bowman  was  a 
very  bright,  pleasant,  young  fellow,  attentive  to  his 
duties,  and  a  favorite  with  all  the  officers.  Alphonse 
was  a  little  French  soldier  fresh  from  Algeria.  He  was 
amiable,  alert,  and  wholly  ignorant  of  the  English  lan 
guage,  and  full  of  the  excitable  enthusiasm  of  his  race. 
He  was  very  vain  of  his  equestrian  accomplishments, 
supposed  to  have  been  acquired  during  his  African  cam 
paigns,  and  having  been  recently  unhorsed  in  the  pres 
ence  of  his  command,  his  Gallic  honor  was  now  at 
stake,  and  he  felt  the  importance  of  vindicating  among 
the  buffaloes  the  horsemanship  of  France. 

.  As  we  cantered  towards  the  herd,  first  one  and  then 
another  of  the  young  officers  galloped  out  from  the  col 
umn,  and  joined  us,  until,  to  my  regret,  I  found  our 
party  increased  to  eight,  nearly  all  inexperienced 
hunters,  and  most  of  them  mounted  on  wild  horses 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  115 


hardly  less  excitable  than  themselves.  Alphonse  was 
perched  on  the  back  of  a  big,  hard-mouthed,  powerful 
horse,  and  in  his  hand  was  an  army  revolver,  which  he 
had  cocked  before  he  was  in  cannon  range  of  the  game. 
His  eyes  gleamed  with  an  eagerness  that  filled  me  with 
apprehension,  and  my  prophetic  soul  misgave  me  as  I 
looked  at  him.  I  halted  my  party  in  a  hollow  nearest 
the  buffalo,  pointed  out  to  them  the  great  danger  from 
so  large  a  party  as  ours  running  at  once  into  the  herd, 
ordered  Alphonse  to  uncock  his  pistol  and  return  it  to 
the  holster,  and  cautioned  the  others  against  either  draw 
ing  or  cocking  until  they  should  have  closed  in  upon 
the  buffalo. 

Then,  with  an  inward  wish  that  I  was  well  out  of  the 
affair,  I  led  the  way  at  a  gallop  over  the  ridge  and 
straight  for  a  thousand  buffalo  grazing  four  hundred 
yards  away.  The  nearest  bulls  wheeled  with  a  loud 
grunting  as  soon  as  we  cleared  the  top  of  the  ridge,  and 
the  whole  herd  went  off  at  a  full  gallop,  we  dashing  after 
at  the  speed  of  our  horses.  I  was  still  in  the  lead,  and 
had  closed  to  within  fifty  yards  of  the  hindmost  of  the 
herd,  when  suddenly  a  pistol  cracked  behind  me,  and 
a  ball  went  singing  through  the  air.  I  knew  at  once  it 
could  only  be  the  Frenchman,  and  reining  in  my  horse, 
I,  like  Mazeppa,  "  writhing  half  my  form  about,  hurled 
back  my  curse "  at  his  infernal  carelessness.  As  I 
reined  in  my  horse,  the  Frenchman  tore  past  me,  his 
eyes  wide  open  with  excitement,  as  he  tugged  at  his 
bridle  with  both  hands,  in  one  of  which  was  that  pistol 
cocked  again.  Close  by  his  side  rode  his  friend,  Bow 
man,  as  if  trying  to  help  him.  They  turned  off  toward 
the  right,  and  I  pushed  my  horse  after  the  herd. 

I  had  shot  two  or  three  buffaloes,  when  a  pistol  shot 
on  my  right  attracted  me,  and,  as  I  looked  hastily  in  that 


116  RECOLLECTIONS 


direction,  I  saw  Bowman  toss  his  arms  wildly  in  the 
air.  I  felt  he  was  a  dead  man,  but  being  in  the  thick 
of  the  run,  it  was  not  till  some  seconds  had  elapsed,  and 
his  riderless  horse,  pursued  by  Alphonse,  had  galloped 
far  off  into  the  prairie,  that  I  was  able  to  follow  back 
the  trail  to  where  my  poor  sergeant  lay.  He  was  the 
most  ghastly  picture  of  sudden  death  I  have  ever  seen. 
He  lay  with  his  head  thrown  back,  his  wide-open  eyes 
staring  at  the  sky,  and  his  clenched  hands  full  of  grass. 
There  was  not  a  spark  of  life  left  in  him;  all  had  gone 
out  in  that  sudden  wild  toss  that  I  had  seen.  The  ball 
had  entered  his  breast,  and  had  gone  straight  through 
his  heart.  I  dismounted,  and  leaning  my  head  upon  my 
horse's  neck,  I  wept  like  a  child.  Only  two  or  three 
minutes  before  he  had  passed  me,  looking  so  full  of 
life  and  generous  earnestness  to  rescue  his  friend,  and 
now  he  lay  with  that  friend's  bullet  through  his  heart. 
For  we  could  only  account  for  it  by  believing  that,  as 
he  leaned  over  in  his  effort  to  check  Alphonse 's  horse, 
the  Frenchman,  in  his  excitement,  had  discharged  his 
pistol. 

By  the  time  I  reached  Bowman's  side,  all  our  com 
panions,  absorbed  by  the  chase,  had  disappeared,  and 
only  the  dead  man  and  I  were  together  on  the  wide 
expanse  of  prairie.  After  half  an  hour  I  was  relieved 
to  see  Alphonse  galloping  toward  me,  leading  the  ser 
geant's  horse.  His  success  in  accomplishing  this  feat 
filled  him  with  inward  satisfaction,  which  beamed  from 
his  face  when  he  came  up  to  me;  but  it  was  instantly 
replaced  by  a  look  of  amazed  horror,  when  I  said,  "  Did 
you  shoot  this  man?  "  Evidently  he  was  unconscious 
of  having  done  so.  Indeed,  I  do  not  believe  that  he 
knew  his  pistol  had  gone  off  at  all.  On  examination,  I 
found  two  barrels  were  empty.  I  met  Alphonse  not 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  117 


very  long  ago,  and  talked  with  him  of  this  sad  occur 
rence.  He  says  the  sergeant  shot  himself,  and  evidently 
believes  it.  Having  at  last  succeeded  in  attracting  one 
of  the  young  officers  who  had  come  within  hail  in  pur 
suit  of  a  cow  he  had  shot,  I  rode  off  to  seek  the  column 
and  get  an  ambulance.  After  galloping  several  miles, 
I  returned  with  the  surgeon  and  such  assistants  as  he 
required,  and  placed  the  sergeant's  body  in  his  charge. 
By  this  time  all  our  hunters  had  assembled  save  Lieu 
tenant,  now  General,  Frank.  One  of  the  party  reported 
to  me  that  he  had  seen  Lieutenant  Frank's  horse  throw 
him  over  his  head,  and  then  gallop  off  with  the  buffalo, 
and  that,  though  he  seemed  considerably  shaken  up,  he 
was  evidently  not  seriously  hurt,  for  he  had  gone  on  in 
pursuit  of  his  horse.  Having  no  confidence  in  the 
woodcraft  of  any  of  our  party,  I  ordered  the  ambulance 
to  be  driven  to  the  top  of  the  highest  ridge  near  us,  to 
serve  as  a  landmark  for  my  return,  and  then  galloped 
off  in  the  direction  I  had  been  told  Frank  had  taken. 
After  going  at  a  rapid  pace  for  two  or  three  miles,  I 
overtook  that  young  gentleman  striding  along  over  the 
prairie,  pistol  in  hand,  right  away  from  his  friends. 
The  soft  grass  of  the  prairie  deadened  the  sound  of  my 
horse's  hoofs,  and  I  was  close  behind  him  before  he 
knew  it. 

"Hallo,  Frank!  "  I  shouted,  "where  are  you  going?  " 
He  wheeled  around  with  an  expression  of  intense  relief, 
and  replied  that  he  was  making  for  camp. 

"Where  is  your  horse?" 

"Oh,  he  went  off  with  the  buffalo  two  hours  ago." 

" Is  your  pistol  loaded?" 

"  No,  by  George !     I  forgot  that. " 

"Well,  old  fellow,  you  are  in  a  very  bad  neighbor 
hood  for  an  empty  pistol,  and  you  are  making  straight 


118  RECOLLECTIONS 


for  the  Pawnee  camp.  Load  up  as  quick  as  you  can 
and  jump  up  behind  me,  for  we  must  lose  no  time  in 
getting  out  of  here." 

Black  Jack  was  a  generous  horse,  and  soon  bore  us 
back  to  where  we  found  the  melancholy  group  on  the 
hilltop  anxiously  watching  for  our  return.  We  over 
took  the  column  at  Walnut  Creek,  and  in  a  sequestered 
little  nook,  formed  by  a  bend  of  the  river,  we  prepared 
a  grave  for  our  comrade,  and  just  as  the  sun  was  setting 
I  read  the  service  of  the  Episcopal  Church  over  his 
body,  and  we  left  him  to  his  rest. 

In  the  department  of  New  Mexico  the  Rifles  had  many 
affairs  with  the  Indians,  some  of  them  brilliant.  In 
one  of  these,  Captain  Alfred  Gibbs  was  desperately 
wounded  at  the  conclusion  of  a  most  energetic  pursuit 
and  action  which  had  been  a  complete  success;  for  the 
Rifles  killed  every  Indian  in  the  band,  and  took  from 
them  all  their  plunder  and  property.  But  our  last 
Indian  affair  was  perhaps  the  most  important  and  cred 
itable  of  all  our  encounters  with  these  gentry.  Colonel 
George  B.  Crittenden,  having  ascertained  that  the  Co- 
manches  were  in  great  force  within  two  days'  march  of 
Fort  Union,  organized  with  secrecy  and  dispatch  a  party 
of  about  eighty-five  Riflemen,  and  moved  with  great 
rapidity  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  who  had,  however, 
gone  towards  the  Cimarron  before  he  could  reach  their 
late  camping-ground.  He  pushed  on  after  them,  march 
ing  over  a  country  previously  unknown  to  any  but  the 
Indians,  and  the  Mexicans  who  trade  with  them.  The 
road  was  difficult  and  rough.  It  lay  through  the  moun 
tains,  and  the  weather  was  bitterly  cold.  Still  he  went 
on,  travelling  night  and  day,  and  enduring  every  priva 
tion,  and  using  every  precaution  to  avoid  discovery. 
On  the  morning  of  the  eighth  day,  about  seven  o'clock, 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  119 


they  galloped  into  the  Comanche  camp,  of  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  lodges. 

The  surprise  was  complete.  Many  of  the  warriors 
were  still  rolled  in  their  buffalo  robes  asleep  when  the 
first  rifle  cracked.  Three  hundred  of  them  were  absent, 
hunting  buffalo,  but  over  two  hundred  of  them  remained, 
and  these  were  fearful  odds  against  Crittenden's  attack 
ing  force,  which  was  only  sixty  Rifles,  the  remainder 
being  left  with  the  packs.  A  sharp  fight  ensued,  but  a 
few  minutes  sufficed  to  leave  the  Rifles  in  possession 
of  the  village.  The  women  and  children,  to  the  num 
ber  of  four  or  five  hundred,  fled  to  the  rocky  hillside  at 
the  first  alarm.  The  warriors  fought  only  long  enough 
to  cover  their  retreat,  and  then  followed  their  example. 
The  Rifles  remained  in  the  village  about  eight  hours, 
actively  occupied  all  the  time  in  destroying  tents  and 
stores,  and  maintaining  a  desultory  fire  with  the  Indians 
on  the  rocks  above  them.  The  results  of  this  opera 
tion  were  thirty-five  warriors  killed,  more  than  a  hundred 
and  fifty  lodges  with  a  large  amount  of  stores  destroyed, 
and  forty  horses  captured.  Not  a  woman  or  child  was 
hurt.  Four  of  the  Rifles  were  wounded,  none  very 
dangerously.  Soon  after  the  Comanches  sued  for  peace, 
and  their  request  was  favorably  considered  by  the  com 
mander  of  the  department. 

Perhaps  no  regiment  in  the  service  was  in  its  day 
more  distinguished  than  the  Rifles.  In  Mexico,  during 
nine  months,  we  engaged  the  enemy  eighteen  times, 
losing  in  killed  and  wounded,  sixteen  commissioned 
officers  and  several  hundred  men.  Commencing  with 
the  Rogue  River  affair,  in  Oregon,  detachments  of  this 
regiment  had  fifty-six  successful  encounters  with  the 
Indians  of  that  State,  of  Texas,  and  of  New  Mexico, 
losing  in  these  eight  commissioned  officers  and  many 


120  RECOLLECTIONS   OF    A   VIRGINIAN 

men  killed  and  wounded.  So  that  from  the  day  of  our 
landing  at  Vera  Cruz  to  the  beginning  of  the  late  war, 
a  period  of  fourteen  years,  this  regiment,  or  portions  of 
it,  had  encountered  the  enemies  of  our  country  more 
than  seventy  times,  and  had  lost  in  killed  and  wounded 
twenty-four  commissioned  officers  and  a  proportionate 
number  of  its  rank  and  file. 


CHAPTER  X 

A  Story  of  Indian  Barbarity  — "  Red  Jackson's  "  Fight  with  a  Grizzly  — 
Wolf-hunting  with  Greyhounds  —  Exploits  of  Possum  and  Toots  — 
Capturing  a  Grizzly's  Cubs  —  Transferred  to  Santa  Fe  —  Anxiety  over 
the  Tension  between  the  North  and  the  South  —  How  the  News  of 
the  Fall  of  Sumter  was  received 

V 

;FTER  Sergeant  Bowman's  death,  we  continued 
our  march  without  any  incident  of  note, 
although,  as  I  have  said,  we  were  in  hourly 
danger  of  attack  or  molestation  from  our  red 
skin  neighbors.  When  within  two  days'  march  of  Fort 
Union,  we  reached  the  Point  of  Rocks,  where  a  sad 
tragedy  had  been  enacted  not  many  months  before. 
We  watched  the  ominous  spot  with  anxious  eyes,  as 
its  outlines  became  clearer  before  us,  and  felt  relieved 
when  we  had  left  it  and  its  sorrowful  associations  far 
behind ;  for  even  the  children  of  our  party  were  famil 
iar  with  the  sad  details  of  the  savage  barbarities  which 
had  been  enacted  there. 

Some  time  before  we  reached  it,  a  gentleman  from  Vir 
ginia,  named  White,  was  making  his  way  to  Santa  F£, 
where  he  had  business  matters  awaiting  him,  carrying 
with  him  his  young  wife  and  little  child.  They  had  left 
Fort  Leavenworth  in  company  with  a  trader's  train,  with 
which  they  journeyed  for  protection  until  within  two  days 
of  Fort  Union.  Their  travelling  companions  were  rough 
and  undesirable  associates,  and  the  sojourn  together  had 
been  so  disagreeable  from  these  causes  that  they  decided 

121 


122  RECOLLECTIONS 


to  shorten  it  as  far  as  possible,  and  just  before  reach 
ing  the  Point  of  Rocks  said  good  by  to  the  rest  of  the 
party,  and  pushed  on  towards  the  fort.  The  place,  as  the 
name  implies,  is  a  rocky  point  which  juts  out  from 
the  neighboring  mountain  range,  and  served  to  conceal 
the  Indians  sheltered  behind  it,  who  awaited  there  the 
coming  of  their  victims.  From  the  time  a  train  left  the 
settlements  it  was  constantly  under  the  espionage  of  its 
watchful  enemies,  and  no  detail  which  might  afford  them 
an  opportunity  for  murder  or  robbery  escaped  their  vigi 
lant  observation. 

The  Indians  sprang  upon  the  Whites'  little  party  and 
killed  him  and  the  driver  of  the  carriage,  carrying  Mrs. 
White  and  the  baby  off  with  them.  The  dead  and 
mutilated  bodies  of  the  two  men  were  found  beside 
the  empty  vehicle  by  their  late  travelling  companions, 
who  sent  couriers  on  to  the  Post  to  give  the  alarm. 
A  party  of  the  dragoons,  commanded  by  Captain  Greer, 
and  guided  by  the  famous  Kit  Carson,  immediately  went 
in  pursuit  of  the  marauders,  who  had  fled  to  the  moun 
tains.  It  was  two  days  before  Greer  could  come  up 
with  them,  for  they  had  the  advantage  of  thirty-six 
hours'  start.  On  the  evening  of  the  second  day,  just  at 
dusk,  as  the  command  was  winding  along  a  rocky  defile, 
Kit  Carson  suddenly  halted  them,  saying  he  heard  a 
child  crying.  They  stopped  and  listened,  but  no  repe 
tition  of  the  sound  met  their  ears,  and  they  pushed  on. 
Again  he  called  a  halt  and  listened,  and  again  nothing 
could  be  heard. 

Every  moment  was  of  value,  and,  deciding  at  last  that 
it  was  the  cry  of  a  wildcat  which  had  deceived  them, 
they  continued  their  rapid  march,  and  finally  surprised 
the  Indians  in  their  camp.  Their  fires  were  lighted,  and 
they  felt  so  secure  from  molestation  that  they  had  taken  no 


OF   A    VIRGINIAN  123 


precaution  against  it.  At  the  first  volley  they  fled,  making 
no  attempt  at  a  stand  against  Greer's  men.  Mrs.  White 
had  been  bound  to  a  tree,  whether  for  torture  or  greater 
security  will  never  be  known,  but  most  probably  for  the 
latter  reason.  Just  before  Greer,  who  led  the  attack, 
reached  her  side,  an  Indian,  flying  before  him,  turned 
and,  with  cold-blooded  barbarity,  transfixed  her  with  an 
arrow.  With  such  means  as  he  could  command,  Captain 
Greer  prepared  a  grave  and  laid  her  body  in  it,  and  then 
the  command  set  out  for  its  homeward  march.  There 
was  no  trace  of  the  little  child  to  be  found  in  the  camp, 
and  they  were  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  the  Indians 
had  carried  it  off  in  their  retreat,  although  this  was 
unlike  their  usual  method  of  procedure. 

They  had  left  the  scenes  of  their  late  encounter  several 
hours'  march  behind  them,  and  had  arrived  at  the  wild 
mountain  pass  where  they  had  tarried  the  night  before  to 
listen  for  the  cry  which  had  reached  them,  when  sud 
denly  Kit  Carson  reined  in  his  horse  and  pointed  down 
the  rocky  side  of  the  defile  along  which  the  road  wound. 
There  among  the  boulders  lay  the  dead  body  of  the  child. 
The  savages,  finding  it  troublesome,  and  doubtless  an 
noyed  by  its  cries  from  hunger  and  fatigue,  had  snatched 
it  from  the  arms  of  the  agonized  mother  and  thrown  it 
down  the  precipice  beside  them,  leaving  it  there  to 
perish  from  cold  and  starvation  or  to  fall  a  victim  to 
some  prowling  beast. 

There  were  many  such  heartbreaking  scenes  enacted 
in  those  days  upon  our  frontiers,  and  no  Indians  were 
oftener  the  participants  in  them  than  the  Apaches  and 
Comanches,  with  whom  we  had  to  deal.  After  a  man 
has  been  brought  face  to  face  with  them  in  many  years  of 
frontier  service,  he  is  inclined  to  agree  unreservedly  with 
General  Sheridan's  verdict  regarding  a  "  good  Indian." 


124  RECOLLECTIONS 


We  reached  Fort  Union  in  good  time  and  with  all  of 
our  horses  in  fine  condition.  It  was  then  the  regimental 
headquarters,  but  only  one  troop  of  Mounted  Rifles 
remained  there,  the  others  having  been  sent  out  upon 
an  expedition  against  the  Indians,  who  had  been  making 
threatening  demonstrations.  It  was  during  this  campaign 
that  an  incident  occurred,  which  evidenced  the  coolness 
and  courage  of  one  of  our  young  officers,  whose  name 
is  recognized  to-day  wherever  lovers  of  fine  horses  are 
found.  I  allude  to  General  William  H.  Jackson,  of 
Belle  mead,  or,  as  his  old  army  friends  still  call  him, 
"  Red  Jackson."  At  the  time  of  which  I  write,  he  was 
a  lieutenant  in  the  Rifles,  and  was  out  after  the  Co- 
manches,  with  his  company.  Of  course,  on  a  scout  of 
this  sort,  all  hunting  and  shooting  was  strictly  forbidden. 
One  day  a  grizzly  came  down  from  the  mountains  and 
crossed  the  route  of  the  column.  Jackson  coolly  rode 
out  to  encounter  the  animal,  armed  only  with  his  sabre. 
His  horse  was  blind  in  one  eye,  and,  by  keeping  that  side 
turned  to  the  bear,  Jackson  was  able  to  get  close  to 
him.  At  his  approach,  the  grizzly,  nothing  loath,  rose  on 
his  hind  legs  ready  for  a  fight,  and  Jackson  cleft  his  skull 
with  his  sword.  It  is  doubtful  if  such  an  exploit  was  ever 
elsewhere  attempted  or  accomplished. 

We  found  Major  Simonson,  Captain  Morris,  Dr.  Baily, 
Lieutenant  Julian  May,  and  several  other  officers  on 
duty  at  Fort  Union  when  we  reached  there.  I  was 
Regimental  Adjutant,  and  we  had  the  regimental  band, 
but  very  little  to  occupy  us  beside  the  usual  routine 
of  a  frontier  cavalry  post,  which  allowed  us  plenty  of 
leisure  for  hunting  and  wolf-chasing. 

Captain  Shoemaker  was  the  officer  in  charge  of  the 
ordnance  stores.  He  was  a  kindly  gentleman,  well 
known  and  respected  in  the  army,  and  kept  a  fine 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  125 


pack  of  greyhounds.  His  dog  Possum  was  a  cross  of 
a  breed  left  with  our  regiment,  by  Sir  George  Gore,  some 
years  before.  He  was  the  tallest  and  longest  dog  I  have 
ever  seen,  and  of  great  fleetness  and  power.  He  always 
led  the  pack  of  ten  greyhounds,  which  I  was  enabled  to 
make  up  and  keep  in  the  Commissary's  corral,  under 
charge  of  Corporal  Thomson,  a  bright  young  Virginian 
and  an  ardent  hunter.  Three  times  a  week  in  the 
season  we  would  have  the  pack  out  to  kill  a  wolf.  As 
the  prairie  sloped  gently  up  to  the  edge  of  the  Turkey 
Mountains,  some  five  miles  distant,  we  had  a  good 
course  in  full  view  of  the  garrison,  and  almost  always 
caught  the  wolf  before  he  could  reach  the  timber. 
Otherwise  we  didn't  get  him,  for  the  hounds  would  not 
run  in  cover,  and  the  coyotes  seemed  to  know  this,  and 
always  made  for  it  from  the  start.  Possum,  invariably  in 
the  lead,  would  thrust  his  long  snout  between  the  wolf's 
hind  legs  as  he  closed  on  him,  and  toss  him  over  his 
back,  where  he  would  hold  him  until  the  rest  of  the  pack 
came  up,  when  he  was  soon  killed.  Sometimes  the 
riders  would  be  up  in  time  to  beat  the  dogs  off  and  tie 
up  the  wolf,  taking  him  home  for  another  day's  run. 
Occasionally  we  would  get  an  antelope,  and  Possum  always 
threw  him  in  the  same  way.  No  animal  is  so  fleet  as  the 
antelope,  with  a  good  start  and  a  fair  field  before  him. 
Like  the  hare,  however,  he  is  timid,  and,  when  headed 
off  or  turned,  becomes  bewildered,  loses  his  running,  and 
is  easily  caught. 

Thus  it  was  that  Toots  one  evening  started  an  antelope, 
and  was  running  him  along  the  little  valley  of  the  creek 
that  watered  Fort  Union,  when  I  galloped  to  head  him 
where  he  would  come  out  upon  the  prairie,  over  which  the 
ten  greyhounds  were  spread  out  "breasting."  These, 
seeing  me  running,  all  took  up  the  run  in  the  same  direc- 


126  RECOLLECTIONS 

tion,  and  as  the  antelope  came  out  upon  the  plain  he 
saw  a  circle  of  enemies  closing  around  him,  and  hesitated, 
bewildered.  Toots  was  close  behind  him,  and,  seizing 
him  by  the  leg,  swung  on  to  him  until  I  rolled  off 
Black  Jack,  caught  him  by  the  horn,  and  killed  him 
before  any  dog  of  the  pack  had  reached  him.  Toots 
was  a  wonderful  dog,  occasionally  too  zealous,  as  when 
one  day  he  killed  a  polecat  in  our  kitchen,  and  we  had 
to  vacate  the  premises  for  a  week,  taking  refuge  with  our 
good  friends,  Dr.  Baily  and  his  wife. 

Not  long  after,  Corporal  Thomson  and  I  took  the  dogs 
out  after  a  wolf.  We  ran  one  four  miles,  but  he  finally  got 
into  the  brush  of  Turkey  Mountains  and  escaped  us.  We 
were  returning  slowly,  the  hounds  trotting  behind  the 
corporal's  horse,  and  Toots,  as  usual,  ranging  out  on  the 
prairie,  when  all  at  once  I  saw  him  come  running  in 
towards  us,  his  ears  thrown  back  in  alarm,  and  behind 
him  came  wabbling  in  pursuit  a  polecat,  with  tail  erect, 
ready  for  action.  Toots  had  learned  something  about 
polecats  in  that  momentous  encounter  in  our  kitchen,  but 
the  greyhounds  had  yet  to  be  initiated  into  the  mysteries 
of  that  animal,  so  when  they  lifted  up  their  eyes  and  saw 
this  one  coming,  they  gathered  about  him  and  with  one 
consent  rent  him  asunder.  Then  began  high  jinks  ;  such 
tumbling  and  whining  and  rubbing  of  noses  and  general 
gymnastics  no  ten  dogs  ever  set  up  at  the  same  time. 
The  corporal  and  I  nearly  rolled  off  our  horses  with 
laughter,  and  Toots  sat  off  beyond  polecat  range,  laugh 
ing  as  if  he  would  split  his  sides.  Evidently,  he  enjoyed 
the  joke  more  than  any  of  us. 

Toots  was  the  only  setter  that  ever  lived  to  take  hold 
of  a  buffalo.  One  morning,  after  Sergeant  Bowman's 
death,  I  was  riding  at  the  head  of  the  column,  eagerly 
watching  Lieutenant  Tracy,  who  was  running  a  cow  with 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  127 


a  six-months-old  calf.  The  cow  suddenly  charged  Tracy, 
whose  horse  stampeded  and  ran  away  with  him  for  a 
mile  or  more  before  he  could  check  or  turn  him.  The 
calf  also  stampeded  and  ran  straight  for  me  until  it  was 
within  about  fifteen  yards,  when  I  turned  upon  it  and 
rolled  it  over.  Toots  sprang  from  the  carriage  where  he- 
was  having  a  ride  beside  the  driver,  dashed  past  me,  and 
swung  to  the  calf  while  it  was  yet  struggling  upon  the 
ground.  Long  afterward,  near  Fort  Wise,  I  shot  an  ante 
lope  and  broke  his  hind  leg.  Toots  chased  him  with  me 
for  fully  two  miles,  and  caught  and  held  him  until  I 
seized  his  horn  and  knifed  him.  Game  was  so  plentiful 
then  on  the  western  frontier  that  there  were  few  days  in 
which  we  could  not  have  good  sport.  My  own  expe 
rience  in  the  field  convinced  me  that  there  was  no  animal 
so  wary,  so  enduring,  and  so  dangerous  as  the  wild  bull 
of  Texas.  I  except  the  grizzly  bear  always,  who  has  not 
his  equal  for  fierce  and  aggressive  courage  in- all  the  cata 
logue  of  wild  beasts. 

One  day  at  Fort  Staunton  a  horse  guard  came  gallop 
ing  in  and  reported  to  Captain  Claiborne  of  the  Rifles, 
that  an  old  she-grizzly  and  two  cubs  were  m  the  timber 
near  the  horse  pasture.  Claiborne,  who  was  a  great  hunter 
and  a  fine  shot,  snatched  his  rifle,  and,  accompanied 
by  a  friend,  hurried  out  to  meet  his  savage  game.  They 
soon  found  them  and  rolled  the  she-bear  over,  but  the 
cubs,  about  the  size  of  setter  dogs,  climbed  up  into  some 
trees  and  went  out  upon  the  limbs,  where  no  one  could 
get  at  them.  Claiborne's  object  being  not  to  kill  but  to 
capture  them,  it  was  decided  to  shoot  the  limbs,  cutting 
them  away  with  rifle-balls  until  they  would  no  longer 
bear  the  weight  of  the  cubs.  Being  capital  shots,  this 
was  soon  accomplished,  and  they  had  the  satisfaction  of 
securing  alive  fine  specimens  by  this  novel  plan  for  cap 
turing  grizzlies. 


RECOLLECTIONS 


We  passed  one  year  at  Fort  Union,  at  the  end  of 
which  we  heard  the  news  of  John  Brown's  capture  of 
Harper's  Ferry.  Then  the  Indians  cut  off  mail  commu 
nication,  and  we  heard  no  more  for  many  weeks,  when  by 
a  system  of  escorts  between  the  Rifles  and  the  First  Cav 
alry  our  mail-route  was  re-established,  and  a  sergeant 
brought  me  a  letter  from  Lieutenant  Jeb  Stuart,  congrat 
ulating  me  upon  my  promotion  to  a  captaincy  in  the 
Adjutant-General's  department,  with  orders  to  repair  to 
Santa  F£,  then  the  headquarters  of  the  department  of 
New  Mexico.  This  was  a  great  gratification,  as  it  was  a 
position  of  high  trust  and  importance,  and  carried  with  it 
assurance  of  a  comfortable  and  permanent  residence. 

There  were  many  officers  stationed  at  Santa  Fe",  and 
the  city,  being  the  headquarters  of  the  department,  was 
much  visited  by  officers  from  every  part  of  it,  and  we  all 
got  on  very  cordially  together  until  the  quickening  excite 
ment  of  the  approaching  war  separated  us.  Before  the 
year  was  out  we  had  to  be  upon  our  guard  in  our  inter 
course  with  each  other ;  for,  whereas  we  seemed  to  be  in 
accord  before  the  hostilities  began,  and  nearly  all  were 
Southern  in  their  sympathies,  when  the  time  came  to 
prove  the  faith,  there  were  but  few  who  gave  up  the  cer 
tain  pay  and  emoluments  of  the  established  government 
of  the  United  States  for  the  uncertainty  of  one  yet  to  be 
created.  I  remember  that  at  our  last  Christmas  dinner 
in  Santa  F£,  we  carefully  selected  our  guests  according  to 
their  avowed  intentions  in  the  coming  crisis. 

At  last  the  blow  fell  for  which  we  had  so  apprehen 
sively  been  watching.  In  these  days  of  telegraph  and 
rapid  transit,  it  is  hard  to  realize  the  suspense  and  anx 
iety  from  which  we  suffered  as  the  days  dragged  their 
slow  lengths  along  from  the  arrival  of  one  mail  to  the 
next.  We  could  only  expect  news  once  a  week,  and  not 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  129 


then  if  the  Indians  chose  to  interfere  with  its  trans 
mission,  which  they  frequently  did.  As  the  mail-day 
would  approach,  our  impatience  would  increase  with  each 
hour  of  suspense,  and  I  well  recall  the  anxious  group 
which  gathered  in  our  parlor  one  evening  in  May,  1861, 
to  await  its  arrival  and  distribution.  There  was  Loring, 
our  colonel,  who  had  fought  through  two  wars,  and  was 
again  to  win  distinction  in  another,  and  Lieutenant  John 
Pegram,  who  in  the  coming  struggle  would  rise  to  the 
rank  of  general,  and  die  bravely  for  his  home  and  people, 
and  Grason  of  Virginia,  and  several  others,  who  with  my 
wife  and  me  awaited  with  ill-concealed  anxiety  the  com 
ing  of  the  orderly  with  the  mail-bag.  The  mail  for  all 
the  department  came  to  my  office,  and  had  to  be  as 
sorted  there,  but  at  last  we  were  able  to  seize  the  papers 
and  turn  to  the  telegrams.  Usually  it  was  our  home 
letters,  with  news  of  our  dear  ones  far  away,  which  were 
opened  first,  but  that  night  these  were  cast  aside  un 
noticed,  while  we  read  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter.  Even 
then  it  was  some  time  before  we  could  grasp  the  details. 
One  after  another  we  took  the  sheet  and  tried  to  read 
aloud  its  contents,  and  each  voice,  broken  with  emotion 
in  the  effort,  refused  to  do  its  owner's  bidding. 

The  die  was  cast.  The  great  war  which  was  to  bring 
to  us  and  to  our  people  ruin  and  desolation  was  upon  us, 
and  we  must  go  to  meet  it.  It  was  in  no  light  or  unap- 
preciative  mood  that  we  sat  looking  at  each  other  in  the 
silence  which  followed  the  reading  of  the  telegrams ;  for 
we  realized  the  greatness  of  the  sacrifice  expected  of  us, 
and  it  was  with  sad  hearts  that  we  turned  our  backs  upon 
the  friends  and  associations  of  a  happy  past,  and  faced 
the  issues  of  a  future  which  had  little  to  offer  us  save  the 
consciousness  of  duty  loyally  performed.  At  last  I  awoke 
once  more  to  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  and  to  a 


130 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    VIRGINIAN 


realization  of  the  great  crisis  of  which  we  alone  were  in 
formed,  and,  seizing  the  papers,  I  ran  out  into  the  street 
and  made  my  way  to  the  officers'  quarters,  shouting  aloud 
as  I  went  that  Fort  Sumter  had  fallen,  and  war  had 
begun ! 


CHAPTER  XI 

An  Expedition  against  the  Navajoes  —  The  Modoc  Chief,  Captain  Jack 

—  The  Journey  Home  from  New  Mexico,  at  the  Outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War  —  The  Feeling  among  Army  Men  —  "  Stricken  from  the  Rolls  " 

—  Experiences  in  Leavenworth,  Topeka,  and  on  the  March  —  Gen 
eral  George  H.  Thomas 

[S  soon  as  the  news  of  Virginia's  secession 
from  the  Union  reached  me,  I  sent  in  my 
resignation,  and  prepared  to  follow  it  to  the 
States.  No  one.  had  ever  doubted  that  such 
would  be  my  course,  and  all  my  friends  regarded  it  as 
the  only  proper  one  for  me  to  pursue. 

The  Navajoes  had  become  hostile,  committing  many 
depredations  that  fall,  and  we  had  fitted  out  a  formida 
ble  expedition  to  invade  their  country  during  the  win 
ter.  It  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Canby,  who  pressed  it  with  severity.  While  the  troops 
suffered  much  from  the  great  cold  and  deep  snows, 
the  Indians  perished  in  numbers.  They  are  less  savage 
and  more  thrifty  than  any  other  wild  tribe,  having  per 
manent  homes,  flocks  and  herds,  and  some  manufac 
tures,  and  are  therefore  more  assailable.  They  paid  a 
heavy  reckoning  that  winter,  for  their  homes  were  de 
stroyed  and  their  herds  taken  from  them,  and  it  was 
said  that  they  dared  not  stay  long  in  any  one  place,  and 
that  all  the  children  born  to  them  during  that  campaign 
perished.  They  soon  and  earnestly  sued  for  peace,  and 


132  RECOLLECTIONS 


kept  it  too,  until  recently  hostilities  have  been  renewed 
in  their  region. 

Canby  did  his  work  effectually,  and  returned  to  Santa 
Fe"  just  as  I  was  about  to  leave  it  for  Richmond.  He, 
with  his  wife,  was  our  guest  there,  and  I  carefully  ex 
plained  to  him  how  and  where  I  had  distributed  the 
troops  of  the  department,  of  which  he  showed  his  ap 
proval,  and  I  then  transferred  to  him  my  office  and  my 
house.  Just  four  years  afterward,  I  left  him  my  office  in 
Mobile,  he  and  I  having  closed  the  great  war  after  the 
long-contested  battle  of  Mobile,  with  mutual  respect  for 
each  other. 

During  the  fighting  with  the  Oregon  Indians,  in  which 
Jamie  Stuart  was  killed,  Walker's  command  captured 
a  young  Indian  little  more  than  a  lad.  The  Rifles  had 
scattered  a  band  which  took  to  the  river,  and  as  our 
men  were  examining  the  banks  in  search  of  fugitives, 
one  of  them  saw  a  pair  of  bright  eyes  shining  through 
the  roots  of  an  overhanging  tree,  and  stooping,  caught 
an  Indian  boy  by  his  legs,  and  hauled  him  out.  They 
took  him  along  for  some  time,  until  near  where  he  could 
make  his  way  to  his  people,  and  then  set  him  free.  It 
would  have  been  better  for  all  if  the-  young  reptile  had 
been  shot  then  and  there.  Years  afterward,  Canby  was 
murdered  by  the  celebrated  Modoc  chief,  Captain  Jack. 
He  was  the  Indian  boy  caught  by  Walker  thirty  years 
before,  and  set  free,  and  in  relating  the  history  of  his 
life  just  before  his  execution,  Jack  recited  the  incidents 
of  his  capture  and  of  his  liberation.  The  Post  chaplain 
who  ministered  to  him  in  his  last  moments  felt  it  his 
duty  to  prepare  him  for  his  fate,  and  to  reconcile  him 
to  it  by  descanting  to  him  upon  the  good  company  who 
would  greet  him  in  the  eternal  home,  to  which  Jack 
replied:  "I  don't  know  none  them  peoples.  They  your 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  133 


friends.  I  give  you  ten  ponies  you  tak'  my  place  to- 
morrer! " 

I  sold  out  my  household  goods  of  every  sort  in  Santa 
Fe",  and  hired  a  wagon  of  the  first  train  to  cross  the  plains, 
and  the  quartermaster  furnished  me  with  an  ambulance 
and  team.  At  Fort  Union,  where  we  halted  to  make 
up  our  party,  every  consideration  and  respect  was  shown 
us.  Lieutenant  Enos,  a  big-hearted  young  fellow  from 
New  York,  had  been  much  with  me  and  my  family,  and 
showed  deep  emotion  on  parting  from  us.  Lieutenant 
Gay,  another  manly  young  officer,  took  me  to  one  side 
and  said :  "  You  may  need  a  good  horse  before  you  get 
through.  I  present  you  with  that  Navajo  mare  of  mine. 
I  picked  her  out  of  a  drove  of  five  hundred  we  captured. 
She  is  yours."  Webb,  the  sutler,  pressed  upon  me  as 
much  money  as  I  would  accept.  I  assured  him  I  was 
well  supplied,  but  told  him  of  another  of  our  Southern 
officers  who  needed  money,  and  he  gave  him  as  much  as 
he  could  be  induced  to  take. 

At  every  Post  upon  our  route  the  same  kindly  feeling 
met  us,  and  at  parting  we  were  told:  "I  hate  to  lose 
you,  old  fellow,  but  you  are  perfectly  right.  If  I 
were  in  your  place,  I  would  do  the  same  thing." 

The  season  was  late,  and  the  grass  for  half  of  our 
journey  very  bad,  and  we  were  forty-five  days  in  our 
wagons,  a  wearisome  time  of  suspense  and  anxiety  to 
us.  Our  escort  consisted  of  about  seventy  men,  who  had 
just  served  the  term  of  their  enlistment,  and  were  on 
furlough.  With  two  exceptions,  they  all  intended  on 
reaching  the  States  to  join  Northern  regiments  for  the 
approaching  war. 

As  we  proceeded,  rumors  of  the  coming  struggle  flew 
thick  and  fast  toward  us,  and  each  day  the  danger  of 
arrest  and  detention  seemed  more  imminent,  and  our 


134  RECOLLECTIONS 


anxiety  for  the  helpless  women  and  children  of  our  party 
increased.  When  within  two  or  three  miles  of  Council 
Grove,  we  met  three  rough-looking  men  in  an  open 
wagon,  who  called  out  to  us  as  they  passed :  "  You  had 
better  look  out  in  Council  Grove !  They  are  going  to 
give  you  hell !  " 

Captain  John  G.  Walker  was  in  command  of  the  party, 
and  he  and  I  took  counsel,  finally  deciding  that  he  should 
close  his  command  well  up  on  the  rising  ground  above 
the  village,  while  I  would  ride  on  into  it  and  report  if 
there  were  any  hostile  demonstration  or  purpose  to  hurt 
or  hinder  us.  We  knew  that  Jim  Lane  and  the  Kansas 
roughs  had  been  notified  of  our  coming  and  of  our 
position  towards  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
and  that  we  were  now  entering  the  most  advanced  out 
posts  of  the  "Jay  Hawkers."  I  rode  up  to  our  carriage, 
and  asked  my  wife  to  let  me  have  the  children's  old 
shoes,  telling  her  I  would  ride  on  ahead  and  buy  some 
new  ones,  as  we  should  not  halt  in  the  place.  As  she 
gave  them  to  me,  she  also  let  me  understand  that  she 
knew  my  real  object.  I  rode  forward,  and  stopping  at 
the  largest  store,  where  some  horses  were  hitched,  went 
in  and  got  the  shoes.  A  group  of  men  standing  there 
greeted  me  sociably,  and  were  inclined  to  be  chatty, 
and  I  rode  back  and  told  Walker  to  come  on,  as  there 
was  no  danger.  We  marched  rapidly  through  the  town 
to  our  camp,  four  miles  beyond,  and  felt  relief  at  having 
escaped  any  trouble.  One  of  our  objects  in  going  be 
yond  the  village  was  to  prevent  the  men  from  obtaining 
liquor  if  we  could,  for  it  was  the  Fourth  of  July,  and 
after  their  long  enforced  sobriety  upon  the  march  they 
would  be  the  more  apt  to  indulge  themselves  too  freely 
now. 

Our  camp  had  been  pitched,  and  I  was  stretched  out 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  135 


on  my  cot  resting  after  the  hard,  hot  ride,  when  I  was 
aroused  by  a  disturbance  near  the  guard  tent.  As  I 
looked  out  an  old  Rifleman,  named  Kearns,  knocked  the 
sergeant  of  the  guard  down.  I  have  never  seen  a  man 
knocked  as  he  was.  He  went  tumbling  fifteen  feet  be 
fore  he  rested  on  his  back.  Kearns  stood,  pistol  in 
hand,  defying  arrest.  He  was  six  feet  two  inches  in 
height,  and  was  known  as  the  bully  of  the  regiment. 
When  he  was  sober,  he  was  an  excellent  soldier,  but  now 
he  was  maddened  by  whiskey.  He  laid  his  loaded  rifle  at 
his  feet,  and  swore  he  would  kill  any  one  who  attempted 
to  arrest  him,  and,  holding  his  revolver  in  his  hand 
with  his  thumb  on  the  hammer,  he  was  ready  to  make 
good  his  word. 

Walker,  at  about  forty  paces'  distance  from  Kearns, 
was  attempting  to  cap  his  Colt's  rifle  and  shoot  him 
down  where  he  stood;  for  he  thought  it  was  the  signal 
for  a  general  uprising;  that  it  meant  violence  to  us  and 
to  our  wives  and  children.  I  snatched  up  my  six- 
shooter,  and  ran  to  Walker,  urging  him  not  to  shoot 
Kearns,  adding  that  I  would  disarm  him.  Mrs.  Walker 
at  the  same  time  clung  to  her  husband,  imploring  him 
not  to  shoot,  while  I,  holding  my  cocked  pistol  behind 
me,  advanced  rapidly  towards  my  man,  striving  to  keep 
the  while  between  Walker  and  him.  As  I  approached 
him,  I  held  out  my  left  hand  for  his  revolver,  and  said 
a  few  earnest  words  to  him  about  the  helpless  women 
and  children  he  was  endangering,  ending  by  ordering 
him  to  go  at  once  to  the  guard  tent.  He  handed  me 
his  pistol,  saying,  "  Captain  Maury,  I've  always  uphilt 
ye  fer  a  gintleman,  if  ye  are  a  Southern  man,  and  I'll 
do  just  as  ye  bid  me,"  and  turning  he  went  to  the 
guard  tent  and  lay  down. 

Next  morning  when  I  came  out  of  my  tent  I  saw 


136  RECOLLECTIONS 

Kearns  sitting  in  front  of  the  guard  tent,  looking  the 
picture  of  woe.  I  beckoned  him  to  me,  and  gave  him 
his  arms,  and  begged  him  not  to  drink  again  upon  this 
march.  With  very  deep  feeling  he  said,  "Sure,  I'll 
never  forgit  your  treatment  of  me  as  long  as  I  live,  and 
ef  iver  ye  need  a  friend,  ye'll  find  him  in  me."  He 
showed  sincere  emotion,  and  he  kept  his  word,  for  he 
never  drank  again,  and  he  seemed  always  on  the  lookout 
for  an  opportunity  to  help  me  or  to  serve  me  in  any 
possible  way.  Nor  did  the  insubordinate  characters 
who  had  encouraged  Kearns  to  his  riotous  outbreak  ever 
transgress  further,  though  they  would  have  gone  to  any 
length  had  he  not  yielded. 

Two  of  them  were  on  my  tent  detail,  and  the  morning 
I  rode  away  from  camp  into  Leavenworth  they  stole  my 
revolvers.  I  was  greatly  concerned  when  I  heard  it, 
and,  after  I  had  reported  to  the  commanding  officer,  set 
out  for  the  encampment  of  our  escort  with  a  vague  hope 
of  recovering  them.  I  saw  a  man  approaching  me, 
whom  I  recognized  as  the  rascal  I  suspected.  When 
he  saw  me  he  changed  his  course,  and,  as  I  still  ap 
proached  him,  broke  into  a  run.  I  did  likewise,  and 
as  he  stepped  into  a  little  ditch  and  fell,  I  sprang  on 
top  of  him,  demanding  my  pistol,  which  he  relin 
quished.  By  that  time  the  sergeant  of  the  guard  had 
come  hastily  up,  and,  taking  out  my  memorandum  book, 
I  called  the  number  of  the  pistol.  The  sergeant  said, 
"It  is  yours,  Captain,"  and  handed  it  to  me.  I  then 
ordered  him  to  take  the  man  to  the  guard  tent  and  hand 
him  over  to  the  officer  with  my  compliments,  which  was 
done  forthwith.  One  of  the  officers  had  already  re 
covered  the  other  pistol  for  me,  and  I  thus  received 
another  of  the  many  evidences  proffered  us  of  the  good 
feeling  of  our  brother-officers  towards  us,  who  were  so 
soon  to  be  widely  separated  from  them. 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  137 


At  Topeka,  Kansas,  the  morning  papers  contained 
the  order  announcing  that  "  Captain  Carter  L.  Steven 
son,  Captain  Dabney  H.  Maury,  and  Lieutenant  Edward 
Dillon  are  hereby  stricken  from  the  rolls  of  the  army 
for  entertaining  treasonable  designs  against  the  govern 
ment  of  the  United  States."  From  that  time  we  natu 
rally  doubted  if  we  would  be  permitted  to  proceed  on 
our  journey  southward. 

On  our  homeward  march,  we  crossed  the  Arkansas  at 
Bent's  old  ford,  and  followed  the  river  down  its  course 
for  many  days.  Walker  had  brought  with  him  a  huge 
and  savage  dog,  half  mastiff,  half  bloodhound,  of  whom 
everybody  was  afraid.  He  was  more  tolerant  of  me  than 
of  any  one,  because  I  used  to  take  him  with  me  on  my 
hunts.  But  on  this  particular  evening  old  Cy  was 
very  cross,  and  as  in  passing  I  patted  him  on  the  head 
he  tossed  up  his  mouth  and  seized  me  by  the  arm  with 
a  savage  growl.  I  knew  it  was  war  to  the  death,  and 
I  kicked  him  heavily  in  the  ribs,  drawing  my  knife  as 
I  did  so.  The  brute  crouched  and  sprang  at  my  throat, 
and  I  caught  him  fair  in  the  breast  with  my  knife.  He 
drew  back,  casting  a  reproachful  look  at  me,  and,  stag 
gering  to  the  river,  rolled  over  dead.  I  called  out  to 
Walker  that  I  had  killed  his  dog,  expressing  my  regret 
at  having  been  forced  to  do  so;  to  which  he  replied 
that  he  was  glad  I  had  done  it,  and  that  I  had  no  other 
course,  as  he  certainly  would  have  killed  me  if  I  hadn't 
him. 

Our  camp  was  near  Fort  Atkinson,  about  which  we 
found  some  two  thousand  Indians  assembled.  They 
were  Arapahoes  and  Cheyennes,  who  were  awaiting  the 
annual  distribution  by  the  Indian  agents  of  presents,  etc. 
About  ten  minutes  after  old  Cy's  death,  I  observed  a 
number  of  Indians  gathered  about  his  body,  and  finally 


138  RECOLLECTIONS 


an  old  squaw  emerged  from  the  crowd,  exultingly  hold 
ing  aloft  one  of  old  Cy's  hind  quarters,  as  she  went  to 
her  tepee  shouting  in  wild  Indian  fashion.  As  the 
group  dispersed  I  went  down  to  the  river.  They  had 
left  nothing  of  the  dog  save  a  little  blood  upon  the 
grass.  They  had  had  no  fresh  meat  for  some  time,  and 
dog  is  an  Indian's  dainty  dish. 

On  our  last  night  out  we  camped  within  eight  miles 
of  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  very  early  next  morning  I 
rode  into  the  Post,  expecting  possible  arrest,  and  intend 
ing  to  pass  on  to  Louisville  and  await  my  family  there, 
if  I  found  there  was  any  intention  to  stop  me.  I  rode 
to  the  sutler's  store  just  as  the  morning  flag  was  running 
up,  and  found  there  old  Colonel  Rich,  one  of  the  most 
respected  and  beloved  of  the  old-time  sutlers.  His  son 
was  already  in  the  First  Missouri  Regiment  and  in  the 
field  on  the  Southern  side.  Poor  lad !  He  fell  gallantly 
fighting  at  Shiloh. 

I  was  clad  in  an  old  corduroy  hunting- suit,  and  had 
not  been  shaven  or  shorn  since  I  left  Santa  Fe",  and  the 
old  gentleman  peered  curiously  into  my  face  as  we 
walked  out  of  hearing  before  he  said,  "  Why,  it's  Maury, 
isn't  it?" 

"Yes." 

"Well,  I'd  never  have  taken  you  for  a  gentleman. 
What  are  you  doing  here  so  early?  " 

"I  am  here  to  learn  if  they  intend  to  arrest  me." 

"No,  indeed;  they  will  treat  you  more  kindly  than 
ever  you  were  treated  in  Fort  Leavenworth."  And  so, 
indeed,  they  did. 

I  hastened  back  to  meet  the  column  and  come  in  with 
the  other  officers  and  report  to  the  commander  of  the 
Post,  Colonel  Prince.  After  cordially  welcoming  us,  he 
said,  f<  Maury,  here's  an  order  interesting  to  you  and 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  139 


Stevenson,"  and  gave  us  the  order  we  had  seen  a  few 
days  before  at  Topeka.  I  then  turned  to  the  paymaster 
and  asked  if  a  month's  pay  was  not  due  me.  He  said, 
"Yes;  and  I  would  like  to  pay  it  to  you,  but  here  is  an 
order  just  received  requiring  that  it  shall  be  paid  to  you 
only  in  Washington."  It  has  been  paid  me  since. 

Our  stay  in  Leavenworth  was  brief,  and  when  we 
came  away  a  young  kinsman  of  mine  from  Virginia, 
who  was  employed  in  the  paymaster's  department, 
joined  us.  His  name  was  Francis  Berkeley.  He  en 
tered  a  Virginia  regiment,  shouldered  his  musket,  and 
played  his  part  like  a  man,  and  now  lives,  highly  re 
spected,  as  Captain  Berkeley  of  Staunton.  One  of  our 
Virginia  regiments  was  known  as  "the  Berkeley  regi 
ment,"  because  the  colonel,  the  lieutenant-colonel,  the 
major,  and  the  adjutant  were  all  Berkeleys,  akin  to  each 
other. 

The  record  of  the  Virginians  everywhere,  when  their 
State  seceded,  is  full  of  pride  and  honor.  Many  were 
in  distant  parts  of  the  army,  or  on  remote  stations  in 
the  Navy,  or  otherwise  enjoying  positions  of  credit  and 
emolument.  -  Yet,  with  a  promptness  and  devotion 
never  surpassed,  they  surrendered  every  benefit  which 
long  and  distinguished  service  had  earned  for  them, 
and  made  their  way  home  through  dangers  and  diffi 
culties,  from  a  noble  sense  of  duty  to  their  State  and  to 
their  people. 

Of  those  who  finally  decided  to  bear  arms  against  the 
South,  George  H.  Thomas  easily  leads  in  point  of  abil 
ity  and  attainments  as  a  soldier.  He  was  bom  in  South 
ampton  County,  Virginia,  was  greatly  distinguished  in 
the  Mexican  War,  and  was  voted  a  sword  by  his  native 
State.  No  man  was  ever  more  devoted  to  his  own 
people,  and  they  greatly  loved  and  honored  him.  In 


140  RECOLLECTIONS 


the  Virginia  Convention,  which  was  greatly  opposed 
to  secession  until  Lincoln  declared  his  purpose  to  march 
an  army  across  the  State  to  coerce  South  Carolina, 
Thomas  was  thought  of  as  the  commander- in-chief  of 
the  Virginia  forces.  Neither  Lee  nor  Johnston  had  yet 
declared  his  purpose  in  case  his  State  should  secede, 
while  Thomas  had  proclaimed  that  he  would  retire  from 
the  Federal  army  and  enter  the  service  of  Virginia  in 
the  event  of  her  secession. 

He  had  active  friends  to  support  his  claims,  and  he 
applied  early  for  an  appointment  in  the  Virginia  forces, 
and  Governor  Letcher  held  an  important  office  awaiting 
his  resignation  from  the  United  States  army.  With  this 
in  his  pocket,  as  it  were,  he  went  to  New  York  to  sever 
his  connection  with  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and 
bring  his  wife  back  to  Virginia  with  him.  She  was  a 
woman  of  fine  character.  Her  kindred  and  her  prop 
erty  were  in  New  York,  and  through  her  influence  he 
delayed  his  action  until  he  had  received  from  General 
Scott  orders  to  an  important  post;  and  like  other  great 
soldiers  of  history  and  good  men  everywhere  and  in  all 
times  past,  he  was  conquered  by  a  woman. 

When  General  Fitz  Lee,  en  route  to  Virginia,  after  his 
own  resignation,  called  to  see  Thomas,  he  said  at  part 
ing,  "Well,  Major,  I  suppose  we  shall  meet  in  Rich 
mond  in  a  few  days?  " 

"Yes,"  replied  Thomas.  His  wife  —  a  handsome 
woman  she  was  —  remarked,  "  He  thinks  he  will." 

Thomas'  purposes  were  as  well  understood  as  those 
of  any  other  man  whatever  in  his  position.  He  made 
them  a  matter  of  record  by  his  official  applications  for 
service,  which  were  published  and  well  known  before  his 
death.  Had  he  followed  his  natural  inclinations  and 
allegiance,  and  accepted  the  commission  which  Gov- 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  141 


ernor  Letcher  held  in  reserve  for  him,  his  native  State 
would  have  been  the  better  off  by  one  more  able  and 
brave  commander. 

We  reached  St.  Louis  with  great  anxiety,  for  party- 
feeling  ran  high  there,  General  Lyon  being  especially 
vigorous  in  his  course  against  the  secession  party. 
Camp  Jackson  had  been  captured  and  some  citizens  had 
been  shot.  We  regretted  the  fact  that  we  were  com 
pelled  to  remain  all  night  in  the  city,  and  could  not 
cross  over  into  Illinois  until  next  morning.  Some  of 
our  late  escort  had  travelled  along  with  us  thus  far,  and 
among  them  a  corporal  who  said  he  intended  to  have 
me  arrested.  He  was  an  Englishman,  and  was  one  of 
those  who  had  instigated  Kearns  to  his  violent  outbreak. 
I  had  decided  to  avoid  the  fashionable  hotels  in  St. 
Louis,  where  I  might  be  met  and  recognized,  and  went 
to  a  quiet  house,  where  such  was  not  so  apt  to  be  the 
case.  While  registering  my  name,  a  man  came  up  be 
side  me  to  register  his,  and  turning  I  found  myself  face 
to  face  with  the  corporal.  I  gave  him  a  nod  of  recogni 
tion,  which  he  received  with  an  insolent  and  triumphant 
air,  as  I  fancied,  at  having  me  at  last  in  his  power.  It 
was  already  midnight,  and  no  arrests  could  be  made 
then,  and  we  were  to  cross  the  river  before  sunrise  in 
the  morning,  so  I  said  to  myself,  "  If  that  fellow  does 
not  go  over  into  Illinois  with  us,  we  are  safe."  As  we 
stepped  on  the  ferry-boat,  one  of  the  very  first  men  we 
saw  was  this  rascal.  I  had  not  been  so  alarmed  since 
leaving  Fort  Union.  Two  trains  were  waiting  the  arri 
val  of  the  ferry-boat,  one  bound  for  Chicago,  and  the 
other  for  Louisville,  and  to  our  great  satisfaction  the 
man  took  the  former,  and  we  saw  him  no  more. 

The  conductor  of  our  train  was  a  remarkably  gentle 
manly  man,  and  said,  pointing  to  our  servants  who  had 


142  RECOLLECTIONS    OF   A   VIRGINIAN 

gone  with  us  to  New  Mexico:  "I  presume  these  are 
your  slaves,  and  I  wish  to  tell  you  not  to  be  anxious 
about  them.  I  have  carried  more  than  four  thousand 
slaves  over  this  line,  and  have  never  lost  one. ' '  I  was  not 
uneasy  on  that  score,  for  ours  were  more  afraid  of  los 
ing  us  than  we  were  of  losing  them;  but  it  was  with  a 
feeling  of  general  relief  that  I  gathered  my  little  party 
safely  around  me  in  the  Gait  House  in  Louisville,  and 
took  a  julep. 


CHAPTER  XII 

Arrival  in  Richmond  — On  the  Battle-field  of  Manassas  —  Embarrassing 
Interview  with  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston  —  His  Protest  against 
being  superseded  by  General  Lee  —  His  Removal  from  the  Command 
of  the  Army  of  Tennessee  —  Anecdotes  of  Johnston  —  His  Personal 
Traits  and  Family  Life  —  His  Opinions  of  Napoleon,  Marlborough. 
Forrest,  and  Others 

E  reached  Richmond  on  July  igth,  where  all 
was  in  active  preparation  for  war.  I  re 
ported  to  the  governor  and  to  General 
Lee,  commanding  the  forces  of  Virginia.  I 
was  much  impressed  by  the  grave  and  anxious  aspect 
of  General  Lee,  and  remarked  to  Commodore  Maury 
that  it  surprised  and  depressed  me.  He,  too,  had  ob 
served  it.  I  was  appointed  Colonel  of  Cavalry  of  the 
Virginia  forces,  and  ordered  to  report  to  Adjutant- 
General  Cooper.  The  same  day  I  received  my  appoint 
ment  as  Captain  of  the  Regular  Cavalry  of  the  Confed 
eracy,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  their  provisional  army. 
I  told  General  Cooper  that  I  would  take  my  family  to 
Fredericksburg,  where  my  mother,  whom  I  had  not  seen 
for  two  years,  was  living,  and  he  replied  that  he  would 
send  my  orders  there. 

The  Sunday  that  I  spent  in  Fredericksburg,  we  could 
hear  all  day  the  distant  firing  at  Manassas.  No  orders 
had  yet  come  for  me,  but  I  took  the  first  train  for  Rich 
mond.  I  had  been  apprehensive  lest  my  wife  or  mother 
should  hinder  me  from  going  into  battle,  but  I  never 


144  RECOLLECTIONS 


again  had  any  anxiety  on  that  score,  for  they  seemed  as 
solicitous  as  I  that  I  should  be  in  time  for  that  engage 
ment.  On  arriving  at  the  adjutant-general's  office,  I 
found  that  my  orders  had  been  sent  to  the  Spottswood 
Hotel,  where  I  had  never  been  at  all.  But  for  this  mis 
take,  I  should  have  reached  Manassas  in  time  for  the 
great  battle,  for  I  was  assigned  to  General  Joseph  E. 
Johnston,  as  his  adjutant-general. 

On  my  way  up,  I  met  people  at  every  station  who  were 
full  of  the  news  of  the  great  victory.  President  Davis 
was  on  the  down  train,  and  had  been  in  the  battle,  and 
from  the  platform  of  the  car  made  a  stirring  speech  to 
the  exultant  multitude.  When  I  reached  the  field,  the 
Federal  dead  were  not  yet  all  buried,  and  I  remember 
well  the  horrid  spectacle  of  near  one  hundred  red- 
breeched  Zouaves  who  lay  about  where  the  Confederates 
had  captured  a  Federal  battery,  their  swollen  bodies  and 
blackened  faces  making  a  ghastly  contrast  with  their 
bright  scarlet  uniforms  and  gay  trappings. 

On  my  arrival,  I  immediately  presented  my  orders  to 
General  Johnston.  As  he  read  them,  he  exclaimed  with 
great  emphasis :  "  This  is  an  outrage !  I  rank  General 
Lee,  and  he  has  no  right  to  order  officers  into  my  army." 
Of  course  I  was  deeply  mortified,  and  after  an  interval 
sufficient  to  allow  him  to  grow  calmer,  I  asked  him  to 
let  me  speak  to  him.  He  cordially  assented,  and,  walk 
ing  off  from  ear-shot  of  those  about  him,  and  placing 
his  arm  affectionately  on  my  shoulder,  said,  "Maury, 
you  know,  or  you  ought  to  know,  that  I  would  rather 
have  you  in  this  office  with  me  than  any  other  man  in 
the  army,  but  I  cannot  accept  any  orders  which  will 
acquiesce  in  so  unlawful  an  assignment  of  rank  of  the 
Confederate  generals  as  has  been  made."  As  he  spoke, 
he  passed  his  arm  over  my  shoulder,  and  showed  great 
feeling  for  me. 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  145 


I  said :  "  I  know  nothing  of  this,  and  my  position  is 
a  very  embarrassing  one.  With  your  permission,  I  will 
go  at  once  to  Richmond  and  request  assignment  else 
where."  Which  I  did  forthwith. 

General  Johnston  recovered  from  his  wounds  at  Jalapa 
in  time  to  enter  the  valley  of  Mexico  with  General 
Scott,  and  bear  his  part  in  those  battles.  At  Chapul- 
tepec,  while  leading  his  battalion,  he  was  severely 
wounded  again,  making  the  ninth  shot  received  by  him 
in  battle.  On  the  disbandment  of  the  voltigeurs,  he 
was  restored  to  the  Topographical  Engineers,  where  he 
served  until  1854.  When  two  new  regiments  of  cavalry 
were  added  to  our  regular  army,  he  was  appointed  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  of  the  First,  and  Lee  Lieutenant-Colonel 
of  the  Second.  In  the  course  of  four  or  five  years,  John 
ston  was  made  Quartermaster- General,  with  rank  and 
pay  of  Brigadier-General,  and  the  Senior  Major 
promoted  to  his  vacated  Lieutenant- Colonelcy.  The 
Confederate  Congress  made  a  law  that  all  officers 
should  hold  rank  in  the  Confederate  army  in  accord 
ance  with  that  held  in  the  United  States  army,  and 
Johnston,  as  the  only  brigadier-general  who  came  south, 
felt  that  he  was  entitled  to  be  the  senior  general  of  the 
Confederate  forces.  But  it  was  ordered  that  he  should 
take  position  as  if  he  had  been  a  lieutenant-colonel. 
This  placed  him  below  Sidney  Johnston,  General 
Cooper,  and  General  Lee,  making  him  fourth  in  rank 
instead  of  first,  and  was  naturally  very  galling  to  him, 
conscious  as  he  was  of  his  great  powers  and  remarkable 
services. 

I  subsequently  learned  that  after  our  interview  at 
Manassas,  General  Johnston  wrote  to  President  Davis, 
protesting  against  the  injustice  of  the  existing  state  of 
affairs,  and  saying  that  he  would  raise  no  protest  now, 


146  RECOLLECTIONS 


nor  until  the  independence  of  the  Southern  Confederacy 
should  be  achieved,  when  he  would  use  all  lawful  means 
to  have  his  rank  rightfully  established.  The  gauntlet 
then  thrown  down  was  accepted  as  a  gauge  of  battle  be 
tween  the  President  and  General  Johnston,  ultimately 
causing  his  removal  from  the  command  of  the  army  of 
Tennessee  and  the  downfall  of  the  Confederacy,  as  many 
now  believe.  Johnston  was  critical,  controversial,  and 
sometimes  irritable  by  nature,  very  exact  in  his  state 
ments,  and  possessed  of  a  wonderful  memory.  Few 
men  read  so  much  as  he,  and  none  I  have  ever  seen 
retained  so  accurately  facts  and  impressions,  or  were  so 
careful  in  the  selection  of  the  words  to  express  their 
views.  It  is  not  probable  that  any  man  in  our  country 
had  ever  studied  the  histories  and  biographies  of  wars 
and  warriors  as  had  Johnston. 

I  find  among  my  papers  the  following  letter  from 
General  Johnston,  which  is  interesting  as  giving  his 
account  of  the  campaign  preceding  his  removal  from 
the  command  of  the  army  of  Tennessee :  — 

MACON,  GA.,  September  ist,  1864. 
My  Dear  Maury  : 

I  have  been  intending  ever  since  my  arrival  at  this  place  to  pay  a 
part  of  the  epistolary  debt  I  owe  you.  But  you  know  how  lazy  it 
makes  one  to  have  nothing  to  do,  and  so  with  the  hot  weather  we 
have  been  enduring  here,  I  have  absolutely  devoted  myself  to  idle 
ness.  I  have  been  disposed  to  write  more  particularly  of  what  con 
cerns  myself  —  to  explain  to  you,  as  far  as  practicable,  the  operations 
for  which  I  was  laid  on  the  shelf,  for  you  are  one  of  the  last  whose 
unfavorable  opinion  I  would  be  willing  to  incur. 

You  know  that  the  army  I  commanded  was  that  which,  under 
General  Bragg,  was  routed  at  Missionary  Ridge.  Sherman's  army 
was  that  which  routed  it,  reinforced  by  the  Sixteenth  and  Twenty- 
third  Corps.  I  am  censured  for  not  taking  the  offensive  at  Dalton  — 
where  the  enemy,  if  beaten,  had  a  secure  refuge  behind  the  fortified 
gap  at  Ringgold,  or  in  the  fortress  of  Chattanooga,  and  where  the 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  147 


odds  against  us  were  almost  ten  to  four.  At  Resaca  he  received 
five  brigades,  near  Kingston  three,  and  about  3500  cavalry;  at 
New  Hope  Church  one;  in  all  about  14,000  infantry  and  artillery. 
The  enemy  received  the  Seventeenth  Corps  and  a  number  of  gar 
risons  and  bridge  guards  from  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  that  had 
been  relieved  by  "  hundred-day  men." 

I  am  blamed  for  not  fighting.  Operations  commenced  about  the 
6th  of  May;  I  was  relieved  on  the  i8th  of  July.  In  that  time  we 
fought  daily,  always  under  circumstances  so  favorable  to  us  as  to 
make  it  certain  that  the  sum  of  the  enemy's  losses  was  five  times 
ours,  which  was  10,000  men.  Northern  papers  represented  theirs 
up  to  about  the  end  of  June  at  45,000.  Sherman's  progress  was 
at  the  rate  of  a  mile  and  a  quarter  a  day.  Had  this  style  of  fight 
ing  been  allowed  to  continue,  is  it  not  clear  that  we  would  soon 
have  been  able  to  give  battle  with  abundant  chances  of  victory,  and 
that  the  enemy,  beaten  on  this  side  of  the  Chattahoochee,  would 
have  been  destroyed  ?  It  is  certain  that  Sherman's  army  was 
stronger,  compared  with  that  of  Tennessee,  than  Grant's,  compared 
with  that  of  Northern  Virginia.  General  Bragg  asserts  that  Sher 
man's  was  absolutely  stronger  than  Grant's.  It  is  well  known  that 
the  army  of  Virginia  was  much  superior  to  that  of  Tennessee. 

Why,  then,  should  I  be  condemned  for  the  defensive  while  Gen 
eral  Lee  was  adding  to  his  great  fame  by  the  same  course?  General 
Bragg  seems  to  have  earned  at  Missionary  Ridge  his  present  high 
position.  People  report  at  Columbus  and  Montgomery  that  Gen 
eral  Bragg  said  that  my  losses  had  been  frightful;  that  I  had  disre 
garded  the  wishes  and  instructions  of  the  President;  that  he  had 
in  vain  implored  me  to  change  my  course,  by  which  I  suppose  is 
meant  assume  the  offensive. 

As  these  things  are  utterly  untrue,  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that 
they  were  said  by  General  Bragg.  The  President  gave  me  no 
instructions  and  expressed  no  wishes  except  just  before  we  reached 
the  Chattahoochee,  warning  me  not  to  fight  with  the  river  behind  us 
and  against  crossing  it,  and  previously  he  urged  me  not  to  allow 
Sherman  to  detach  to  Grant's  aid.  General  Bragg  passed  some 
ten  hours  with  me  just  before  I  was  relieved,  and  gave  me  the  im 
pression  that  his  visit  to  the  army  was  casual,  he  being  on  his  way 
further  west  to  endeavor  to  get  us  reinforcements  from  Kirby  Smith 
and  Lee.  I  thought  him  satisfied  with  the  state  of  things,  but  not 
so  with  that  in  Virginia.  He  assured  me  that  he  had  always  main- 


148  RECOLLECTIONS 


tained  in  Richmond  that  Sherman's  army  was  stronger  than  Grant's. 
He  said  nothing  of  the  intention  to  relieve  me,  but  talked  with 
General  Hood  on  the  subject,  as  I  learned  after  my  removal.  It  is 
clear  that  his  expedition  had  no  other  object  than  my  removal  and 
the  giving  proper  direction  to  public  opinion  on  the  subject.  He 
could  have  had  no  other  object  in  going  to  Montgomery.  A  man 
of  honor  in  his  place  would  have  communicated  with  me  as  well  as 
with  Hood  on  the  subject.  Being  expected  to  assume  the  offensive, 
he  attacked  on  the  2Oth,  22d,  and  28th  of  July,  disastrously,  losing 
more  men  than  I  had  done  in  seventy-two  days.  Since  then  his 
defensive  has  been  at  least  as  quiet  as  mine  was. 

But  you  must  be  tired  of  this.  We  are  living  very  quietly  and 
pleasantly  here.  The  Georgians  have  been  very  hospitable.  We 
stopped  here  merely  because  it  was  the  first  stopping-place.  Re 
member  us  cordially  to  Mrs.  Maury.  Tell  her  the  gloves  arrived 
most  opportunely.  Mine  had  just  been  lost  and  it  would  have  been 
impossible  to  buy  more,  and  they  are  lovely.  Just  before  I  left  the 
army  we  thought  the  odds  against  us  had  been  reduced  almost  six 
to  four.  I  have  not  supposed  therefore  that  Sherman  could  either 
invest  Atlanta  or  carry  it  by  assault. 

Very  truly  yours,  J.  E.  JOHNSTON. 

Major-General  Maury. 

When  Johnston  took  charge  of  the  great  army  of  Ten 
nessee,  which  had  been  defeated  and  disorganized  before 
his  arrival  to  its  command,  it  was  in  wretched  condition. 
Most  of  the  general  officers  were  in  open  hostility  or 
avowed  mistrust  of  the  general  commanding,  and  indis 
cipline  prevailed  throughout.  When  Johnston  came,  the 
change  was  instantaneous,  and  henceforth  no  army  of 
the  Confederacy  ever  equalled  Johnston's  in  drill  and 
high  discipline. 

General  Carter  Stevenson  was  one  of  the  division 
commanders  of  that  army,  a  man  of  the  largest  experi 
ence  and  military  accomplishments.  He  had  served  in 
every  army  of  the  Confederacy,  and  actively  in  all  of 
our  wars  since  1834.  He  told  me  he  had  never  seen 
any  troops  in  such  fine  discipline  and  condition  as 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  149 


Johnston's  army  the  day  he  was  removed  from  its  com 
mand.  General  Randall  L.  Gibson  had  been  in  con 
stant  action  in  the  Western  army.  He  it  was  who  closed 
an  honorable  record  by  his  masterly  command  of  the 
defences  near  Spanish  Fort,  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
Mobile  Bay,  in  the  last  great  battle  of  the  war  between 
the  States.  He  says  that  when  Johnston  assumed  com 
mand  of  that  army,  it  was  somewhat  demoralized,  but 
when  the  campaign  with  Sherman  opened,  the  worst 
regiment  in  it  was  equal  to  its  best  when  he  came  to 
its  command.  A  Missouri  soldier  of  CockrelPs  brigade, 
which  Johnston  declared  to  be  the  best  body  of  infantry 
he  ever  saw,  was  on  his  way  back  to  his  regiment  after 
recovery  from  a  wound.  I  asked  him,  "  What  do  you 
all  think  of  the  change  of  commanders?" 

"Oh,  sir,  we  are  mightily  cut  down  about  it.  The 
bomb-proofs  and  the  newspapers  complain  of  his  re 
treats.  Why,  we  didn't  miss  a  meal  from  Dalton  to 
Atlanta,  and  were  always  ready  for  the  fight.  We  never 
felt  we  were  retreating." 

Just  after  Johnston's  removal,  General  Wigfall  passed 
Mobile,  and  sent  a  request  to  me  to  come  down  to  his 
steamer,  for  he  wanted  to  have  some  talk  with  me.  He 
was  just  from  the  army  of  Tennessee,  where  he  had 
been  with  Hood,  Johnston  having  gone  away.  He 
spoke  with  his  accustomed  vigor  relative  to  the  change 
of  commanders,  saying:  "Mr.  Davis'  favor  was  no 
less  fatal  to  its  objects  than  his  animosities.  That 
young  man  Hood  had  a  fine  career  before  him  until 
Davis  undertook  to  make  of  him  what  the  good  Lord 
had  not  done  —  to  make  a  great  general  of  him.  He 
has  removed  General  Johnston  and  put  Hood  in  his 
place.  He  has  thus  ruined  Hood,  and  destroyed  the 
last  hope  of  the  Southern  Confederacy." 


150  RECOLLECTIONS 


Several  years  after  the  war,  the  Legislature  of  Virginia 
ordered  General  Johnston's  portrait  to  be  painted  by 
Elder  and  hung  in  the  capitol  of  the  State.  I  was  asked 
to  be  present  at  the  sittings,  to  keep  him  in  conversation 
that  the  artist  might  have  the  advantage  of  the  play  of 
his  features.  The  first  day  he  discussed  Napoleon, 
Marlborough,  and  Wellington.  Ranking  Napoleon 
above  all  great  commanders  since  Csesar,  he  criticised 
him  with  great  animatian  for  more  than  half  an  hour. 
Marlborough  he  ranked  as  the  greatest  commander  and 
statesman  England  ever  produced.  He  inveighed  bit 
terly  against  the  partisanship  of  Macaulay,  who  accepted 
as  authority  contemporary  disparagement  of  Marl- 
borough,  while  he  rejected  the  same  authority  as  un 
worthy  of  credit  when  it  assailed  King  William.  The 
next  day  he  discussed  Lee,  Jackson,  and  Forrest,  and 
according  to  Lee  and  Jackson  the  full  measure  of  their 
fame,  he  pronounced  Forrest  the  greatest  soldier  the  war 
produced.  These  discussions  occupied  each  day  the 
whole  time  of  the  sittings.  He  spoke  uninterrupt 
edly.  Elder  and  I  listened,  and  always  regretted  that 
his  words  and  emphasis  could  not  be  recorded  and  pre 
served.  The  portrait  is  a  good  one,  and  it  hangs  in  the 
rotunda  with  those  of  Lee,  Jackson,  Maury,  and  many 
another  of  Virginia's  sons  from  colonial  days  till  now. 

At  Seven  Pines,  when  assured  of  victory,  Johnston 
was  stricken  down  by  the  severest  injury  he  had  ever 
received.  A  shell  burst  near  him,  breaking  three  of  his 
ribs,  and  at  the  same  time  a  rifle-ball  pierced  his 
shoulder-blade.  He  fell  from  his  horse,  and  was  borne 
from  the  field  to  the  residence  of  his  friend,  Mr.  Cran- 
shaw,  where  he  lay  until  somewhat  recovered  from  his 
eleventh  and  last  wound.  While  lying  there,  he  was 
the  object  of  great  interest  and  affection  to  all  our  peo- 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  151 


pie,  who  felt  we  were  deprived,  at  a  most  critical  time, 
of  our  great  leader,  who  up  to  that  time  had  evinced 
every  capacity  of  a  general,  while  Lee  had  not  yet 
achieved  success  in  the  field.  During  this  period,  an 
old  gentleman  of  Richmond  called  to  pay  his  respects 
and  express  sympathy  for  our  general.  He  said,  "  Gen 
eral,  I  not  only  deplore  this  because  of  the  suffering 
it  entails  upon  you,  but  I  consider  it  a  great  national 
calamity."  To  his  great  amazement,  Johnston  suddenly 
raised  himself  upon  his  elbow,  and  with  his  peculiar 
energy  of  expression  said:  "No,  sir.  The  shot  that 
struck  me  down  is  the  very  best  that  has  been  fired  for 
the  Southern  Confederacy  yet.  For  I  possess  in  no 
degree  the  confidence  of  our  government,  and  now  they 
have  in  my  place  one  who  does  possess  it,  and  who  can 
accomplish  what  I  never  could  have  done, —  the  con 
centration  of  our  armies  for  the  defence  of  the  capital 
of  the  Confederacy." 

Di'.  Fauntleroy,  his  medical  attendant  and  the  chief 
surgeon  of  the  army,  was  present  at  this  interview, 
which  he  related  to  me  many  years  after,  when  Johnston 
was  running  for  Congress,  and  when  the  opposition 
papers  were  daily  disparaging  him.  Fauntleroy  told 
me  this  while  I  was  on  my  way  to  the  White  Sulphur, 
where  General  and  Mrs.  Johnston  were  established  for 
the  summer.  I  urged  Fauntleroy  to  publish  this  char 
acteristic  anecdote  in  the  Richmond  Dispatch.  He 
demurred,  but  I  insisted  that  he  owed  it  to  the  general 
to  remind  our  people  of  those  days  when  he  endured  so 
much  for  them,  and  he  finally  agreed  to  do  it,  stipulat 
ing  that  he  should  not  sign  his  name  to  the  story. 

Accordingly,  it  came  out  in  the  next  issue  of  the 
Dispatch,  signed  "Medicus."  I  went  on  my  way  to  the 
Springs,  well  pleased  with  the  part  I  had  borne  in  this 


152  RECOLLECTIONS 


tribute  to  the  old  man.  A  few  days  afterward  Johnston 
returned  from  his  canvass,  and  was  very  bright  and  well- 
satisfied  with  the  progress  of  his  contest.  He  hunted 
me  up  about  dinner-time,  and  said  he  had  some  fresh 
mint  and  good  brandy  at  his  cottage,  where  we  would  go, 
and  his  wife  would  make  us  a  julep.  On  our  way  across 
the  lawn,  he  was  so  cheery  and  pleasant  that  it  seemed 
to  me  a  favorable  time  to  tell  him  of  Fauntleroy's  pub 
lication,  and  if  he  seemed  greatly  pleased  I  would 
impart  to  him  my  share  in  this  friendly  service.  As  I 
proceeded  with  my  narrative,  I  observed  an  ominous 
silence  come  over  him,  with  an  increasing  redness  about 
his  face  and  a  peculiar  twitching  of  his  neck,  premoni 
tory  of  an  explosion.  Suddenly  he  stopped  still,  and  in 
a  fierce  tone  said,  "Don't  you  think  it  an  infamous 
outrage,  sir,  to  publish  a  gentleman's  name  in  the 
newspapers  without  his  permission?  "  I  did  not  remind 
him  that  his  name  had  been  daily  for  many  months 
published  in  the  newspapers  without  his  permission,  nor 
did  I  think  it  worth  while  to  allude  to  the  part  I  had 
borne  in  this  "infamous  outrage,"  but  just  went  right 
along.  In  fact,  I  rather  acquiesced  in  his  views,  and 
changed  the  subject,  till  Mrs.  Johnston  with  her  deli 
cious  juleps  and  hearty  cordiality  made  us  forget  all  the 
outrages  of  the  world. 

I  have  never  known  two  people  more  devoted  to  each 
other  than  they  were.  Her  health  was  not  robust,  and 
he  watched  over  her  in  her  illnesses  with  the  greatest 
tenderness,  and  at  all  times  paid  her  the  delicate  atten 
tions  of  a  lover.  I  believe  they  had  been  married  more 
than  fifty  years  when  her  death  occurred.  It  left  him 
very  desolate.  They  had  no  children,  which  was  a 
great  cause  of  regret  to  him,  for  he  was  very  fond  of 
children  and  was  especially  so  of  mine.  He  told  me 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  153 

one  day  with  much  feeling,  "You  are  certainly  blessed 
in  your  children." 

One  day,  while  living  in  Richmond,  Mrs.  Johnston 
stopped  her  carriage  and  asked  me  if  I  could  tell  her 
where  her  husband  was.  I  went  to  seek  him,  and  told 
him  "  the  handsomest  and  brightest  woman  in  Richmond 
was  looking  for  her  husband."  Drawing  himself  up, 
he  said :  "  There  is  but  one  woman  in  Richmond  who 
answers  to  that  description,  and  she  is  my  wife.  Where 
is  she?"  Soon  after,  he  fell  and  hurt  his  leg  seriously. 
When  I  went  to  see  him,  I  found  him  with  his  crippled 
leg  supported  by  a  chair,  and  Mrs.  Johnston,  sitting  by 
his  side,  was  chaffing  him.  I  told  her  she  ought  not  to 
treat  a  husband  so  who  adored  her  as  he  did,  and  related 
his  compliment  of  a  few  days  before.  She  laughed 
heartily  at  us  both,  saying  he  would  never  have  said  it 
if  he  had  not  known  that  I  would  tell  her. 

She  was  very  bright  and  jovial  and  loved  to  banter 
him,  and  he  enjoyed  it  all  quite  as  much  as  she  did. 
One  summer  we  were  at  the  Sweet  Chalybeate  with  our 
families.  The  Johnstons  occupied  a  two-story  cottage, 
and  one  morning  we  were  chatting  together  on  the 
upper  portico  and  the  general  was  narrating  something 
with  interest,  when  a  wild  shriek  of  fright  came  from 
the  walk  below.  He  looked  over  the  railing,  and  in  a 
moment  had  resumed  his  narration,  when  he  was  again 
interrupted  by  a  yell.  This  happened  the  third  time, 
when  he  looked  down  upon  the  frightened  shrieker 
and  called  out  to  her  fiercely,  "Why  don't  you  run 
away?  " 

I  remarked,  "That  is  fine  advice  to  come  from  a 
great  commander."  He  turned  upon  me.  "Well,  sir, 
if  she  won't  fight,  the  best  thing  she  can  do  is  to  run 
away,  isn't  it?" 


154  RECOLLECTIONS 


Mrs.  Johnston,  with  her  hearty  laugh,  put.  in,  "That 
used  to  be  your  plan,  I  know,  sir."  His  fierce  face 
relaxed  into  a  hearty  laugh,  in  which  we  all  joined.  A 
young  woman  in  a  red  cloak  and  a  turkey  gobbler  were 
the  cause  of  the  interruptions.  The  gobbler  ran  at  her; 
she  stood  still  and  shrieked,  which  repulsed  the  turkey. 
Then*  he  turned  and  charged  her  again,  and  she,  making 
no  effort  to  get  away,  shrieked  and  shrieked  again,  till 
at  last  assistance  came. 

Johnston  and  I  had  traversed  in  Texas  the  beautiful 
Wild  Rose  Pass  of  the  Guadalupe  Mountains,  through 
which  for  many  miles  the  Lympia  Creek  finds  its  way. 
In  places,  the  bare  cliffs  of  basaltic  rock  rise  twelve  or 
fifteen  hundred  feet  above  the  little  stream.  In  other 
parts,  beautiful  wooded  slopes  stretch  away  for  miles,  so 
that  the  Lympia  Canon  has  been  for  years  the  beautiful 
wonder  of  the  route  from  San  Antonio  to  El  Paso. 
One  day  I  asked  him  how  he  explained  the  power  of 
that  little  stream  to  make  a  way  for  itself  through  the 
great  mountain  barrier,  expecting  some  profound  geo 
logical  solution.  I  was  answered  when  he  said,  "I 
presume  the  Power  that  could  make  the  stream  could 
make  a  way  for  the  stream  to  pass,  sir." 

In  the  last  year  of  his  life,  he  consented  to  be  god 
father  to  my  little  granddaughter,  and  we  went  to  Rich 
mond  and  occupied  neighboring  rooms  at  the  hotel.  I 
have  rarely  seen  the  general  brighter  or  more  cheerful. 
He  played  with  the  little  child,  ran  up  and  down  the 
halls  with  her,  and  held  her  in  his  arms  during  the 
entire  service,  after  which  he  and  the  venerable  pastor, 
the  beloved  Dr.  Peterkin,  stood  long  together  by  the 
chancel,  in  deep  and  earnest  conversation.  As  he 
turned  away,  the  general's  eyes  were  moist.  They  both 
felt  they  were  near  the  bourne  they  so  soon  passed.  The 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  155 


Count  de  Paris  and  his  suite  were  in  Richmond  at  the 
time,  and  were  honored  with  a  reception  at  the  home 
of  Colonel  Archer  Anderson,  who  invited  us  to  meet 
them.  The  general  and  the  count  soon  drew  off  to  one 
side,  and  for  more  than  an  hour  were  absorbed  in  earnest 
discussion  of  the  vexed  questions  of  war. 

After  our  return  to  Washington,  I  visited  him  fre 
quently,  and  he  told  me  several  times  that  his  visit  to 
Richmond  was  the  happiest  week  he  had  enjoyed  for 
many  years.  One  day  I  found  him  reading  an  ancient 
folio,  the  writings  of  Tamerlane,  Timour  the  Tartar. 
He  read  to  me  many  pages,  with  great  interest  to  us 
both.  On  another  day  he  was  reading  Thiers'  history 
in  the  original,  and  read  aloud  with  much  feeling  the 
narrative  of  the  last  days  and  death  of  Napoleon. 
Soon  after,  he  contracted  a  dangerous  cold,  and  grad 
ually  sank. 

Five  or  six  days  before  he  died,  I  called  to  see  how 
he  was.  As  I  entered  the  room,  he  beckoned  from  the 
lunch-table  for  me  to  come  and  sit  by  him.  Open  on 
the  table  near  him  lay  the  memoirs  of  Du  Guesclin. 
He  was  quite  ill  then,  and  soon  took  to  his  bed,  from 
which  he  never  arose,  and  where  he  calmly  and  serenely 
received  the  last  sacrament  of  the  church.  As  I  bade 
him  farewell,  I  said  "Good  by,"  as  cheerfully  as  I 
could,  adding:  "I  go  to  Texas  to-morrow.  We  will 
soon  meet  again." 

"Yes,"  he  replied,  with  marked  emotion,  "we  surely 
shall  meet  again";  and,  drawing  me  to  him,  he  kissed 
me  twice. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

In  the  Trans-Mississippi  Campaign  under  Van  Dorn  —  A  Virginian's 
Hospitality  —  Incidents  of  the  Retreat  from  Corinth,  after  Shiloh  — 
The  Adventures  of  Jem,  the  Colored  Boy,  a  Type  of  the  Loyal  Ser 
vant —  His  Encounter  with  General  Price  —  A  Quaint  and  Humorous 
Character 

|N  leaving  Manassas,  I  went  to  Richmond  and 
procured  an  assignment  to  the  army  of  Fred- 
ericksburg,  with  headquarters  at  Brooke's  Sta 
tion.  General  Holmes  was  its  commander. 
I  was  much  impressed  by  the  excellent  drill  and  dis 
cipline  of  the  troops  and  the  ability  and  high  accomplish 
ment  of  the  officers.  I  had  never  seen  as  good  drilling 
in  any  infantry  troop  or  artillery  of  the  United  States 
army  as  I  found  in  these  volunteers.  The  officers  a  few 
months  before  had  been  in  their  law-offices,  or  in  their 
counting-houses,  and  the  rank  and  file  in  their  various 
civil  vocations,  but  already  they  were  in  excellent  con 
dition  for  the  active  service.  They  were  eager  to  learn 
and  work.  Perhaps  the  Fortieth  Virginia  Infantry, 
Brockenborough's,  was  in  the  most  complete  state  of 
efficiency.  The  Georgia  Regiment  of  Colonel  Simms, 
the  North  Carolina  Regiment  of  Colonel  Pettigrew,  one 
of  the  ablest  soldiers  and  most  cultivated  gentlemen  who 
fell  in  our  war,  and  the  regiments  of  Colonel  Stokes,  of 
Colonel  Gaston  Mears,  of  Colonel  Tew,  were  all  in  fine 
order.  Every  one  of  these  able  commanders  was  killed 
in  battle,  and  had  made  a  command  worthy  of  him. 
Two  fine  regiments  of  Texans  came  along  on  the  route 

156 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    VIRGINIAN  157 

to  Dumfries ;  the  Fourth  Texas  under  Colonel  Hood, 
and  the  Fifth  under  Colonel  Archer. 

The  only  survivors  of  that  roll  of  able  and  brave 
colonels  are  Colonel  Fagin,  then  of  the  First  Arkansas 
Regiment,  since  a  prominent  general ;  Colonel  Bates, 
since  governor,  and  now  senator  of  Tennessee;  and 
Colonel  Ransom,  of  North  Carolina.  Another  Texas 
regiment  was  afterwards  added  to  the  Fourth  and  Fifth 
to  make  up  the  famous  Texas  Brigade  under  Hood, 
which  was  accounted  invincible.  The  Fourth  Texas  had 
over  four  hundred  native-born  Virginians  in  it.  It  was 
this  Texas  brigade  which  caught  Lee's  bridle  when  he 
wished  to  lead  it  to  the  assault  at  Spottsylvania,  and  said, 
"  You  go  to  the  rear,  and  we'll  drive  them  to  hell." 

After  the  victory  of  the  first  Manassas,  both  armies  lay 
quiescent  for  many  months.  Johnston,  commanding  the 
Confederate  forces,  was  confronted  by  McClellan,  com 
manding  the  great  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  February, 
1862,  General  Earle  Van  Dorn  was  made  commander  of 
the  Trans- Mississippi  Department,  and  I  was  ordered  to 
proceed  at  once  and  report  to  him  as  Chief  of  Staff  of 
the  Department.  While  a  distinguished  honor,  this  was 
a  sore  trial  to  me ;  for  it  took  me  far  away  from  my  wife 
and  mother  and  from  my  native  State,  Virginia,  when  my 
chief  ambition  was  to  fight  for  her. 

I  overtook  Van  Dorn  and  his  staff  at  Jacksonport,  in 
Arkansas.  With  him  were  several  officers  of  the  old 
army,  with  whom  it  was  my  destiny  to  serve  through 
more  than  one  campaign.  The  story  of  the  war  has 
been  so  often  told  that  I  shall  give  only  the  prominent 
events  in  which  I  bore  my  part,  and  of  which  I  have  per 
sonal  knowledge,  omitting  reports  and  battles  of  cam 
paigns  heretofore  published. 

After  our  defeat  at  Elkhorn,  we  remained  several  weeks 


158  RECOLLECTIONS 

in  Van  Buren,  resting  and  refitting  the  army.  One  night 
it  was  reported  that  forty  men  had  died  in  the  hospitals, 
poisoned  by  morphine,  given  to  them  through  mistake 
for  quinine.  A  box,  marked  quinine,  had  been  smuggled 
in  from  St.  Louis.  All  of  the  bottles  were  labelled  quinine. 
One,  as  the  fatal  result  proved,  was  morphine,  and  was 
administered  in  quinine  doses.  We  had  no  means  of 
ascertaining  whether  the  mistake  was  the  result  of  acci 
dent  or  of  a  cruel  fraud.  There  was  no  remedy  and  no 
appeal.  The  government  of  the  United  States  had  de 
clared  medicines  contraband  of  war.  In  all  the  wars  of 
history,  Wellington  alone  in  his  Spanish  campaigns  had 
proclaimed  this  inhuman  war  measure. 

Restless  at  this  enforced  inaction,  Van  Dorn  told  me 
that  he  would  send  a  dispatch  to  General  Sidney  John 
ston  that  he  would  join  our  army  of  the  West  to  John 
ston's  forces  at  Corinth,  destroy  Grant's  army  at  Shiloh, 
and  clear  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  of  the  enemy.  Gen 
eral  Johnston  desired  this  to  be  done,  so  we  put  our 
forces  at  once  upon  the  march,  while  we  hastened  on  in 
advance  to  consult  with  General  Johnston  about  our  plans. 

The  battle  of  Shiloh  was  fought  before  we  reached 
there,  and  Buell  rescued  Grant  before  our  fresh  troops 
could  complete  Johnston's  success.  We  brought  about 
16,000  men  to  reinforce  Beauregard,  holding  the  works 
about  Corinth,  against  which  Halleck  was  very  slowly 
and  timidly  advancing  with  overwhelming  forces.  Three 
times  we  moved  out  of  our  works,  and  invited  Halleck  to 
attack,  but  each  time  he  drew  back.  Finally,  our  troops 
suffered  so  much  from  bad  water  and  a  bad  commissa 
riat,  that  we  evacuated  the  lines  on  the  night  of  May  3Oth, 
and  retired  by  slow  marches  upon  Tupelo,  where  we  had 
good  water,  fresh  provisions,  and  plenty  of  time  for 
drills,  reviews,  etc. 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  159 


On  the  night  of  our  evacuation  of  Corinth,  I  com 
manded  the  rear  guard  of  the  army  of  the  West.  The 
splendid  Missouri  Brigade,  Wade's  or  Bledsoe's  battery, 
and  two  fine  regiments  —  one  the  Third  Arkansas,  and 
the  other  the  Sixth  Texas  —  made  up  my  command. 
We  marched  at  i  A.M.,  and  by  daybreak  had  taken  up  a 
strong  position  just  beyond  the  Five  Mile  Creek.  We 
felt  that  the  whole  army  could  not  drive  us  from  that 
position.  We  waited  unmolested  until  about  10  A.M., 
when  a  staff-officer  came  back  from  Van  Dorn  with 
orders  for  the  rear  guard  to  close  up  with  the  army, 
which  was  halted  for  the  day  in  battle  order  about  six 
miles  beyond  us.  We  were  neither  followed  nor  mo 
lested  by  any  one,  yet  next  day  General  Halleck  sent 
a  telegraphic  dispatch,  announcing  to  the  country  that 
General  Pope  reports  the  capture  of  10,000  rebels  and 
20,000  stand  of  arms.  Had  he  come  across  that  creek, 
he  would  have  found  nearly  3000  of  us,  and  would  have 
probably  thought  we  were  10,000.  At  sunrise,  I  sent  two 
couriers  back  by  the  road  over  which  we  had  marched, 
with  instructions  to  General  Beal,  commanding  the  cav 
alry  left  in  Corinth,  to  destroy  all  stores.  Those  couriers 
met  nobody  upon  the  road.  Pope  had  a  very  general 
reputation  amongst  army  people  of  mistaking  his  imagi 
nations  for  facts. 

Meanwhile,  my  family  had  found  protection  and  gen 
erous  friendship  from  Mr.  Dick  Clarke,  an  old  Virginian, 
who  had  greatly  prospered,  and  lived  at  Verona.  He 
had  a  new  and  spacious  residence,  and  for  several  months 
they  were  his  guests ;  for  he  would  never  permit  me  to 
pay  him.  Our  affectionate  relations  with  him  and  his 
household  have  continued  always.  When  the  army 
moved  away  towards  luka,  I  pressed  Mr.  Clarke  to 
permit  me  at  least  to  remunerate  him  for  our  mess- 


160  RECOLLECTIONS 


bill.  He  firmly  declined,  and  said  :  "  General  Maury,  I 
am  a  money-making  man.  If  you  were  to  put  me  on  an 
island  in  the  middle  of  the  ocean,  I  should  find  some  way 
to  make  money.  But  I  thank  God  I  always  can  use  my 
means  to  help  deserving  people.  And  now  you  must  leave 
Mrs.  Maury  and  the  children  here  with  me,  while  you 
go  on  into  Kentucky,  and  feel  sure  she  will  be  in  every 
way  as  well  cared  for  as  if  she  were  in  her  own  father's 
home  in  Virginia;  and  in  case  you  are  made  prisoner 
and  taken  sick,  you  may  need  money.  Here  are  letters 
of  credit  to  my  correspondents  in  Kentucky,  which  will 
protect  you." 

At  luka,  Rosecrans  struck  us  a  heavy  blow.  Grant 
failed  to  co-operate,  fortunately,  and  we  got  back  to 
Tupelo  considerably  worsted.  We  had  marched  north 
ward  because  we  had  information  that  all  of  Grant's 
forces  had  crossed  into  Tennessee  to  join  Buell.  We 
found  they  hadn't.  Then  came  the  terrible  Corinth  busi 
ness,  which  has  been  fully  written  up  heretofore. 

When  I  was  at  Brooke's  Station,  a  very  likely  negro  boy, 
named  Jem,  was  employed  about  the  stables.  He  was  a 
native  of  Fredericksburg,  and  was  born  free,  *  yet  he 
didn't  seem  to  know  it,  or  to  care  about  it.  His  unfail 
ing  good-humor  was  equal  to  any  tax  upon  his  exertions 
or  any  disregard  of  his  dignity  or  rights  as  a  free  man. 
He  did  whatever  he  was  told  to  do,  but  did  it  in  his  own 
way. 

My  own  boy  was  not  able  to  accompany  me  on  so  long 
and  arduous  a  journey  as  that  before  me,  so  Major  Seth 
French  called  up  Jem  and  told  him  to  go  with  me  to 
Arkansas  by  next  train,  and  he  went  as  my  body-servant, 
and  for  three  years  we  took  care  of  each  other.  That  is, 
I  took  care  of  Jem,  and  Jem  didn't  take  care  of  me  or 
my  things,  that  I  was  ever  aware  of.  At  Chattanooga,  I 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  161 


left  Jem  on  the  platform  of  the  depot  in  charge  of  my 
baggage,  etc.,  while  I  went  to  attend  to  some  business 
matters.  When  I  returned,  my  fine  elk  robe,  blankets, 
and  camp  bedding  were  all  gone,  and  Jem  seemed  very 
much  surprised,  quite  innocent  of  any  responsibility  for 
it,  and  imperturbably  good-humored  under  my  remarks 
about  it,  which  were  caustic. 

When  we  reached  Memphis,  I  left  Jem  in  charge  of  my 
room  and  effects  while  I  went  off  for  a  short  time.  On 
my  return,  Jem  placidly  informed  me,  "  Colonel,  some 
body  done  took  bof  dem  pistols  of  yourn  when  you  was 
gone." 

Another  time,  he  left  my  ambulance  and  team  of  lively 
mules,  hitched  ready  for  a  trip,  while  he  amused  his  lei 
sure  moments.  The  team  started,  the  bar  over  the  top  of 
the  stable-yard  gate  was  too  low  for  the  carriage  to  pass 
under  it,  and  the  mules  went  through,  taking  the  body  of 
the  ambulance,  the  top  of  it  remaining  under  the  gate 
way.  Jem's  only  emotions  were  of  surprise  "  that  them 
mules  is  sich  fools." 

He  was  about  six  feet  two  inches  in  stature,  of  a  most 
joyous  and  happy  disposition,  and  a  ready  wit,  which 
made  him  a  great  favorite  with  all  about  headquarters, 
whether  black  or  white.  I  cannot  recall  that  I  ever  saw 
him  show  any  anger  or  resentment,  or  wear  a  jacket. 
When  he  was  summoned  from  the  stable  to  go  with  me 
to  Arkansas,  he  came  right  along  just  as  he  was.  Nor 
can  I  ever  remember  seeing  him  use  water,  or  take  a 
bath,  except  when  our  canoe  upset  in  Black  River, 
Arkansas,  when  he  had  to  swim  for  his  life. 

Dick  Holland  was  my  first  cousin.  When  I  was  made 
brigadier-general  for  conduct  in  the  Elkhorn  campaign, 
I  found  Dick  at  Corinth,  after  Shiloh,  sergeant-major  of 
a  Mississippi  regiment.  On  my  application,  he  was 


162  RECOLLECTIONS 


appointed  captain  and  aide-de-camp  to  me  ;  and  a  more 
genial,  gallant  fellow  never  wore  a  sword  than  Dick.  He 
was  the  model  of  an  aide-de-camp,  —  knew  everybody 
worth  knowing  in  the  army,  and  made  a  friend  of  every 
man  who  ever  came  to  headquarters. 

My  staff  were  all  bright,  harmonious,  and  active  young 
fellows.  We  had  one  large  mess,  and  care  was  taken  to 
keep  up  a  comfortable  table,  to  which  every  gentleman, 
whether  a  general  or  a  private,  was  welcome  and  sure  of 
a  good  dinner.  Dick  looked  after  all  this,  and  had  a 
peculiar  aptitude  for  finding  good  things  to  eat  and  good 
places  to  rest  for  himself.  His  success  in  making  himself 
comfortable  while  he  was  helping  all  of  us,  made  him  the 
subject  of  many  a  joke  amongst  us. 

I  had  a  very  fine  horse  which  I  never  rode  because  he 
was  too  tall  for  me.  He  suited  Dick  exactly,  and  he 
quietly  appropriated  him,  until  Jem  spoke  of  him  as 
"  Marse  Dick's  horse."  Once  while  Dick  was  off  on  a 
furlough,  a  very  gallant  and  able  officer,  Major  Brown, 
reported  to  me  on  the  eve  of  a  little  fight.  He  asked 
my  permission  to  go  into  it,  which  I  gave,  when  he  said, 
"  General,  my  horses  are  not  up  yet ;  can  you  mount 
me?"  I  called  to  Jem  to  catch  his  Marse  Dick's  horse 
for  Major  Brown.  The  engagement  was  a  skirmish  with 
Sherman's  rear  guard  on  his  retreat  from  us  at  Chickasaw 
Bluff,  and  before  long  I  saw  Brown  coming  back,  carry 
ing  his  saddle  and  bridle,  and  on  foot.  I  said,  "  Major, 
what's  the  matter?" 

"  Well,  sir,  I  was  down  on  the  levee,  when  a  shell  from 
a  gunboat  knocked  that  horse's  head  off.  So  I  thought 
the  best  thing  for  me  to  do  was  to  bring  the  saddle  and 
bridle  back." 

Some  days  after  Dick  returned  from  his  trip,  all  the 
staff  gathered  about  him  to  hear  his  experiences  and  to 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  163 


tell  him  of  ours.  Jem  selected  his  opportunity  and  made 
his  way  to  greet  him,  saying :  "  Sarvant,  Marse  Dick. 
I'se  mighty  glad  to  see  you  safe  back.  Ah,  Marse  Dick, 
if  you  had  a  been  here,  dat  horse  would  never  have  got 
killed  in  dis  world."  Dick  joined  in  the  laugh,  and  the 
staff  told  the  story  over  town ;  and  the  papers  having 
announced  that  Major  Brown,  of  General  Maury's  staff, 
had  his  horse  shot  under  him,  the  girls  called  Dick 
Major  Brown  ever  after. 

In  the  winter  of  1862-63  we  were  on  the  Tallahatchee, 
holding  Grant's  army  in  check,  when  news  came  that  I 
had  been  made  a  major-general.  Jem  was  much  elated 
at  this  increase  of  rank,  and  swaggered  over  the  other 
headquarters  darkies  accordingly.  The  weather  was  bit 
ter  cold,  and  he  was  making  up  my  camp  bed  next 
morning.  I  said  :  "  Jem,  you  must  tuck  in  those  blankets 
better  at  the  foot  of  the  cot.  My  feet  stuck  out  last 
night  and  were  almost  frozen."  With  an  indescribable 
air  of  humorous  impudence,  he  turned  towards  me  and 
said,  "  Why,  you  ain't  growed  no  longer  'en  what  you 
was,  sir,  is  yer,  since  yer  been  promoted  ?  " 

Jem's  stature  exceeded  mine  by  about  one  foot.  He 
used  to  brag  over  the  other  negroes  because  he  was  a 
"  Virginny  nigger,"  and  had  been  in  the  terrible  battle  of 
the  first  Bull  Run.  In  his  opinion,  "  Thar  is  no  soldiers 
like  them  we  all  left  in  Virginny.  The  privates  dar  was 
better  dan  some  of  dese  yer  kurnels,"  and  there  never 
was  service  so  dangerous  as  he  had  seen  in  the  battle  of 
Manassas. 

It  was  on  the  evening  of  the  critical  fight  for  the  pas 
sage  of  the  Hatchie,  after  our  two  days'  fighting  about 
Corinth,  that  I  sent  a  courier  to  the  rear  to  bring  up  a 
fresh  horse.  The  bay  mare  I  was  riding  had  been  under 
saddle  all  of  the  two  previous  days  of  action,  and  it  was 


164  RECOLLECTIONS 


time  to  relieve  her.  Jem  came  galloping  up  to  me  on 
my  finest  horse,  Roy.  It  was  against  orders  for  him  ever 
to  mount  him.  He  had  his  "  own  mar'/'  and  he  informed 
me  that  "  mor'n  one  man  had  dun  shuck  two  hundred 
dollars  at  him  fur  dat  mar'  "  ;  which,  considering  the  easy 
terms  on  which  he  had  acquired  her,  would  certainly  have 
been  a  good  speculation.  She  had  strayed  one  morning 
into  the  field  where  my  horses  were,  and  Jem  took  her 
in  there  and  then. 

He  was  shifting  the  saddles ;  Roy  was  bridled  and  sad 
dled,  and  I  mounted  him  and  found  he  had  cast  a  shoe  — 
was  dead  lame.  Just  then  a  shell  burst  in  the  trunk  of 
the  tree  a  few  feet  above  us.  I  turned  to  tell  Jem  to  give 
me  back  the  mare,  but  he  was  gone  at  full  speed,  lying 
close  down  on  the  mare  and  urging  her  on.  He  was 
about  to  throw  his  saddle  on  her  when  the  shell  burst. 
He  dropped  the  saddle  and  away  he  went. 

Two  days  afterwards  Jem  made  his  appearance  in  the 
"  avalanche,"  looking  as  chirpy  as  if  he  had  won  the 
battle.  He  gave  his  experience  since  his  sudden  disap 
pearance  with  his  usual  fluency. 

"  Gen'l,  when  dat  shell  busted  de  mar'  runned  straight 
away."  I  had  seen  the  flight ;  the  rascal  didn't  stop  to 
put  her  saddle  on,  but  went  off  head  down  on  her  crest, 
with  legs  pounding  her  sides.  "  Ole  Gen'l  Price  an' 
'bout  a  dozen  of  dem  colonels  of  hisn,  dey  was  back  dar, 
—  'bout  a  hundred  yards  behin'  whar  we  all  was,  —  and 
she  busted  plum  thro'  'em.  De  Gen'l  did  cuss  !  '  Stop, 
you  black  rascal !  Somebody  kill  dat  nigger  !  He'll 
stampede  dis  whole  army  ! '  Now,  Gen'l,  I  always  'lowed 
Gen'l  Price  had  mo'  sense  'en  dat.  Dat  warn't  no  time 
to  stop,  an'  Gen'l  Price  ought  to  ha'  knowed  it.  De  mar', 
she  never  stopt  nuther  —  not  till  plum  at  de  avalanche  — 
and  I  got  in  de  avalanche,  and  ain't  leff  it  sense,  cause  I 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  165 


knowed  you  hilt  me  'sponsible  for  yo'  things  what  was  in 
the  avalanche."  Investigation  showed  the  mess-chest  to 
be  empty,  on  which  Jem  evinced  much  surprise  and  in 
dignation  at  the  want  of  integrity  "  of  dese  here  Southern 
soldiers." 

After  this  episode  Jem  lost  credit  as  a  fire-eater ;  but 
his  loyalty  to  me  never  faltered,  and  he  stayed  with  me 
until  the  very  last  moment,  when  we  parted  affectionately. 
He  went  to  Mobile  just  in  the  flush  cotton  times,  and 
when  I  last  saw  him  he  was  the  prosperous  owner  and 
driver  of  a  cotton  flat.  I  heard  that  he  had  become  quite 
a  politician  in  the  reconstruction  times  of  Alabama. 


CHAPTER   XIV 

Promoted  to  Brigadier-General  —  An  Interrupted  Christmas  Dinner  — 
Captain  Bledsoe  —  Incidents  of  Van  Dorn's  Campaign  in  Mississippi 
—  Ross'  Brigade  of  Undisciplined  Texans  —  Measures  for  the  Defence 
of  Vicksburg  —  Operations  of  Porter  and  Sherman  —  Repelling  Gen 
eral  Quinby 

•HE  battles  and  military  operations  in  which  I 
was  concerned  have  heretofore  been  fully 
written  about  and  published.  The  only 
application  for  service  I  ever  made  during 
the  war  was  for  service  in  the  field  in  the  army  of  north 
ern  Virginia.  This  I  made  when  Pemberton  was  placed 
in  command  of  Mississippi  and  its  forces,  and  I  re 
newed  it  by  every  influence  I  could  bring  to  bear,  until 
I  became  absorbed  in  the  active  operations  of  my  own 
department.  At  any  time  I  would  have  given  up  the 
higher  position  I  held  in  the  service  to  take  command 
of  a  division  in  the  army  of  northern  Virginia.  Gen 
eral  Early  kindly  explained  to  me  that  it  would  have 
been  felt  an  injustice  to  the  generals  who  had  been  so 
long  and  actively  engaged  in  Virginia,  to  place  me  over 
their  heads,  as  would  have  been  the  case  with  several 
of  the  major-generals  of  that  army. 

Great  as  was  the  compliment  and  the  opportunity,  I 
deplored  my  promotion  to  the  trans-Mississippi  depart 
ment,  and  did  all  I  could  properly  do  to  have  the  order 
suspended.  As  soon  as  I  joined  Van  Dorn,  I  told  him 
that  while  I  would  do  everything  in  my  power  to  organ 
ize  his  forces,  I  was  not  willing  in  such  a  war  to  do  only 

166 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    VIRGINIAN  167 

office  work.  In  his  hearty,  generous  way,  Van  Dorn 
replied,  "I  appreciate  your  soldierly  feelings,  and 
assure  you  I  will  not  disappoint  you  by  keeping  you  in 
an  office  any  longer  than  may  be  necessary  for  the 
organization  of  my  army,  when  I  will  secure  for  you  a 
proper  command  in  the  field."  I  was  accordingly  pro 
moted  to  brigadier-general  after  the  Elkhorn  campaign, 
and  had  an  opportunity  to  make  up  a  fine  brigade,  and 
very  soon  after  a  fine  division. 

When  General  Van  Dorn  and  I  went  to  Corinth  to 
confer  with  General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  Van  Dorn 
said  to  him :  "  General,  I  met  upon  the  river  a  fine  Texas 
regiment,  the  Second  Texas,  Colonel  John  C.  Moore 
commanding.  I  ordered  it  to  come  at  once  to  you  for 
this  impending  battle.  Please  remember  that  it  is  to 
be  one  of  the  regiments  pf  the  brigade  I  am  going  to 
make  up  for  General  Maury."  General  Johnston  re 
plied:  "I  will  remember;  but  I  wish  you  would  leave 
Maury  with  me  now,  and  I  could  at  once  make  up  a 
good  brigade  for  him."  Van  Dorn  said  he  could  not 
spare  me  then,  and  so  I  escaped  the  disastrous  battle  of 
Shiloh.  General  Johnston  was  a  high  and  great  man. 
No  man  could  have  met  him  without  feeling  respect, 
confidence,  and  love  for  him. 

It  was  on  the  day  before  Christmas,  1862,  that  the 
news  came  to  us  at  Granada  of  the  complete  success  of 
Van  Dorn's  bold  dash  around  Grant's  army  and  of 
Grant's  precipitate  retirement  from  our  front.  On 
Christmas  Day,  a  prominent  and  prosperous  gentleman 
of  Granada,  Mr.  Mister,  a  native  of  Maryland,  gave  a 
grand  dinner  to  General  Price  and  his  generals,  and  a 
sumptuous  table  it  was  that  we  sat  down  to.  All  were 
in  fine  humor  to  enjoy  it,  for  Grant  was  gone  and  there 
was  no  one  to  make  us  afraid. 


168  RECOLLECTIONS 


We  had  just  taken  our  seats,  when  a  courier  arrived 
with  a  telegram  from  General  Pemberton,  ordering 
Maury's  division  to  march  at  once  to  reinforce  General 
Stephen  D.  Lee  at  Vicksburg,  who  with  only  2300 
men  was  attacked  by  Sherman  with  a  corps  of  30,000. 
General  Price  handed  the  dispatch  to  me,  and  I  arose 
at  once,  bade  farewell  to  Mr.  Mister  and  his  brilliant 
company  of  generals  and  colonels,  and  proceeded  to 
put  the  First  Division  in  motion  to  succor  Lee,  as 
noble  and  gallant  a  soldier  as  ever  bore  that  name.  We 
had  to  go  by  rail  to  Jackson,  thence  to  Vicksburg,  over 
the  very  worst  line  of  road  in  the  State.  It  was  dark  of 
the  next  day  before  we  rolled  into  Vicksburg  with  the 
advance  train,  bearing  only  400  men;  the  rest  of  the 
division  were  distributed  along  the  route  from  Jackson. 

The  train  bearing  the  Thirty-fifth  Mississippi  and 
Bledsoe's  battery  was  detained  in  Jackson  several  hours. 
Colonel  Barry  and  Captain  Bledsoe  were  capital  fellows 
and  good  friends.  Barry  was  one  of  the  most  popular 
and  eloquent  men  of  Mississippi.  Genial,  gentle,  and 
humorous,  he  never  seemed  to  harbor  an  unkind  thought. 
Bledsoe  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  battery  cap 
tains  of  Price's  Missourians.  They  were  convivial  that 
night,  and  occupied  a  box-car  together,  in  which,  after 
some  hours  of  congenial  enjoyment,  they  rolled  them 
selves  in  their  blankets  and  slumbered.  Bledsoe  was 
about  six  feet  three  inches  tall,  and  paid  but  little 
attention  to  any  elegance  of  attire.  He  wore  boots  of 
extraordinary  size  and  length,  which  came  half-way  up 
his  long  legs,  and  were  innocent  of  any  coloring  save 
the  native  yellow  of  the  unpolished  hide.  Barry  awoke 
first,  and  seeing  Bledsoe's  great  boots  standing  by,  called 
a  negro  and  gave  him  a  dollar  to  black  them.  The 
darky  performed  his  task  well,  replacing  them  carefully. 


OF   A    VIRGINIAN  169 


Then  Barry  aroused  Bledsoe,  told  him  it  was  time  to  be 
up,  and  lay  chuckling  as  Bledsoe  searched  the  car  for 
his  yellow  boots. 

When  at  last  he  realized  that  the  freshly  blackened 
pair  before  him  were  his  own,  and  that  he  had  furnished 
fun  for  the  company,  his  wrath  arose  against  Barry,  and 
he  challenged  him  to  a  duel.  But  that  jovial  colonel 
declined  to  fight  him  because  he  "  was  only  a  captain, 
and  he  could  not  think  of  waiving  rank."  Poor  Barry 
died  of  consumption  soon  after  the  war,  loved  and 
lamented  by  all  classes  of  people.  Bledsoe,  when  I  last 
heard  of  him,  was  a  prosperous  business  man  in  Mis 
souri,  where  every  one  respected  him. 

I  met  Stephen  Lee  upon  the  battle-field  from  which  he 
had  driven  Sherman.  The  night  was  black  as  a  wolf's 
mouth,  a  cold  rain  was  falling,  and  all  around  us  lay 
the  dead  and  wounded,  whose  piteous  moans  went  out 
for  help  to  the  surgeons  and  litter-bearers,  the  flickering 
light  of  whose  battle  lanterns  appeared  here  and  there 
about  the  field. 

On  reaching  Vicksburg,  I  said :  "  Lee,  I  am  here  with 
only  four  hundred  men,  but  the  whole  division  will  be 
up  soon  after  daylight.  Please  dispose  of  my  force 
where  and  how  you  think  best,  for  though  I  rank  you 
I  don't  know  anything  about  the  conditions  here.  I 
don't  know  where  your  line  lies,  I  don't  know  where 
the  enemy  is;  in  fact,  I  don't  know  where  I  am.  I 
entrust  everything  to  you  with  the  assurance  that  you 
shall  have  all  the  glory,  and  I  will  be  responsible  if 
anything  goes  wrong."  This  surprised  and  pleased  him, 
too.  He  said,  "General,  that  is  very  generous,  and  I 
thank  you  ";  and  he  went  to  work  accordingly,  my  only 
suggestion  being  to  urge  him  not  to  expose  himself  so 
much  as  he  continually  did. 


170  RECOLLECTIONS 

Stevenson  came  up  in  a  day  or  two  with  a  large  force 
—  over  eight  thousand  men.  We  had  carried  on  a  light 
skirmish  with  Sherman  until  all  of  Stevenson's  division 
arrived,  when  we  resolved  to  attack  the  enemy;  but  at 
early  dawn  we  discovered  Sherman's  smokes  along  the 
Yazoo  as  he  retreated.  I  sent  Lee  with  six  or  seven 
regiments  to  worry  his  retiring  forces.  Lee  won  great 
praise  for  his  admirable  conduct  of  this  expedition, 
and  after  my  warm  endorsement  and  earnest  request 
was  promoted  to  major-general.  He  is  a  splendid 
fellow,  and  is  now  president  of  the  admirable  Agri 
cultural  College  of  Mississippi. 

The  day  before  Sherman's  retreat,  a  flag  of  truce 
brought  us  a  letter  requesting  permission  to  bury  his 
dead.  The  letter  was  signed  by  General  Morgan,  and 
the  permission  to  bury  was  signed  by  Lee,  who  immedi 
ately  after  the  fight  had  attempted  to  remove  Sherman's 
wounded,  but  had  been  forced  to  desist  in  his  humane 
efforts  because  his  people  were  fired  upon  by  the 
enemy.  His  litter-bearers  therefore  retired  until  after 
dark,  when  all  of  the  Federal  wounded  were  brought  to 
our  hospitals. 

I  did  not  realize  the  good  name  of  Price's  corps  until, 
on  one  occasion  when  Grant  seemed  to  be  preparing  a 
descent  in  force  upon  our  lines,  General  Stevenson 
ordered  me  to  place  two  regiments  of  my  division  on 
picket  to  defend  the  expected  point  of  attack.  After 
the  usual  tour  of  twenty-four  hours,  I  was  informed  that 
the  rations  were  all  gone,  and  went  to  see  Stevenson 
about  relieving  them  with  some  other  troops.  He  said 
confidentially,  "We  are  not  willing  to  entrust  any  other 
troops  with  the  defence  of  that  point." 

"Oh!  "  said  I,  delighted;  "just  let  me  tell  them  that, 
and  they  will  stay  there  till  Gabriel  blows  his  horn," 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  171 


and  galloped  off  to  tell  the  colonels  to  let  their  regi 
ments  know  that  they  held  the  post  of  honor. 

In  organizing  that  division,  Van  Dorn  appointed  Gen 
erals  Moore,  Cabell,  and  Phiffer,  excellent  disciplina 
rians,  to  command  its  three  brigades,  and  in  the 
campaign  against  Grant  in  September  and  October  at 
Corinth  they  had  shown  great  tenacity,  being  in  action 
three  days.  They  went  in  with  4800  Rifles  the  first  day, 
and  on  the  third  three-fourths  of  their  number  were 
gone,  yet  the  remaining  1200  fought  from  10  A.M.  to 
4  P.M.  with  unfaltering  devotion.  General  Rosecrans 
himself  paid  a  marked  and  generous  compliment  to 
the  bravery  of  that  division.  When  Van  Dorn,  after 
the  battle,  detailed  a  party  under  Colonel  Barry  to  bury 
our  dead,  Rosecrans  courteously  replied  that  "he 
could  not  admit  them  within  his  works,  for  reasons 
which  General  Van  Dorn  could  appreciate,  but  that 
the  latter  might  rest  assured  that  all  possible  care  would 
be  bestowed  upon  the  wounded  and  all  respect  showed 
the  dead,  especially  those  who  fell  so  bravely  as  the  men 
of  Maury's  division." 

Rosecrans  was  a  great  soldier  and  a  generous  gentle 
man.  He  had  been  my  instructor  at  West  Point,  and 
our  relations  had  always  been  of  a  very  cordial  nature. 
After  the  battle,  he  sent  me  a  message  through  one  of 
my  most  gallant  battery  captains,  Tobin,  who  was  cap 
tured  that  day,  bidding  him,  "Tell  Maury,  with  my 
regards,  I  never  used  to  think  when  I  taught  him,  a  little, 
curly-headed  boy  at  West  Point,  that  he  would  ever 
trouble  me  as  he  has  to-day."  Rosecrans  buried  Col 
onel  Rogers  of  the  Second  Texas,  which  led  the  assault, 
with  the  honors  of  war,  and  marked  and  enclosed  his 
grave. 

On  our  retreat  before  Grant,  down  through  Mississippi, 


172  RECOLLECTIONS 


our  rear  guard  had  a  skirmish  with  his  advance  at  Coffee- 
ville.  My  division  was  ordered  to  march  at  4  P.M.,  to 
send  all  baggage,  etc.,  to  a  station  ten  miles  below  us, 
and  to  bivouac  there  for  the  night.  A  cold,  sleety  rain 
fell  upon  us  until  10  A.M.,  when  the  head  of  the  column 
halted  at  Mr.  Brooks'  large  and  comfortable  plantation 
home.  He  was  a  thrifty  planter,  and  his  fields  and 
fences  were  in  good  order.  On  his  large  lawn  about  his 
house  stood  several  dozen  bee-hives,  all  well  stored 
with  honey,  and  on  both  sides  of  his  long  lane,  for  a 
mile  or  more,  high  worm  fences  guarded  his  broad  fields 
of  cotton  and  corn.  The  division  filled  the  whole  lane. 
It  had  been  carefully  trained  to  respect  private  prop 
erty,  and  especially  never  to  burn  rails,  but  as  soon  as 
we  halted  I  ordered  Flowerree,  my  chief  of  staff,  to  send 
along  the  line  the  order  that  "  the  division  will  burn 
rails  to-night." 

A  great  shout,  a  genuine  Confederate  yell,  roared 
along  the  line,  as  they  charged  those  fences.  In  a  few 
minutes,  both  sides  of  the  lane  were  cleared  of  rails,  and 
huge,  blazing  fires  cheered  our  wet  and  weary  men.  The 
fence  around  the  yard  disappeared  too,  and  the  bee 
hives  vanished,  and  nothing  was  left  but  the  stile  blocks, 
over  which  old  Mr.  Brooks  had  been  passing  for  forty 
years,  and  over  which  he  still  uncompromisingly  climbed 
as  he  came  in  to  report  some  fresh  disaster,  though 
nothing  was  left  to  bar  his  passage  through  his  fenceless 
yard.  I  heard  of  no  colds  or  pleurisies  caused  by  that 
night's  march.  I  told  the  old  gentleman  to  make  out  a 
liberal  account  of  the  damage  to  his  property  and  it 
should  be  promptly  paid,  and  a  few  days  after  he 
brought  in  a  bill  of  damages  amounting  to  six  hundred 
dollars.  The  quartermaster  paid  it  at  once,  and  at  that 
time  Confederate  money  was  about  as  good  as  green- 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  173 


backs,  so  Mr.  Brooks  was  happy  in  receiving  ample 
value  for  his  losses  and  I  was  glad  my  men  escaped  much 
illness. 

The  old  gentleman  and  his  wife  were  as  kind  and 
hospitable  as  could  be,  and  we  were  sumptuously  enter 
tained  at  supper  and  breakfast,  and  comfortably  bedded 
all  of  that  inclement  night.  There  were  more  than  a 
dozen  of  us,  generals  and  staff-officers,  who  received 
liberal  hospitality  at  the  hands  of  that  old  Virginia 
family. 

One  night  about  eleven  o'clock  I  was  roused  from  my 
slumber  upon  my  saddle  blanket  under  a  bush,  by  the 
trampling,  almost  upon  us,  of  a  horseman  who  called 
out  to  know,  "Where  is  General  Maury?"  Flowerree 
scratched  a  match  and  read,  "  General  Maury  will  turn 
over  the  command  of  the  rear  guard  to  the  next  officer 
in  command,  and  proceed  at  once  to  the  head  of  the 
army,  assume  command  of  the  First  Division,  and 
march  punctually  at  2  A.M."  It  was  my  third  succes 
sive  night  without  sleep.  The  good  and  great  Father 
Ohannon,  chaplain  to  Price's  Missourians,  was  near  me. 
He  is  now  in  high  favor  with  the  Pope,  as  he  ought  to 
be,  for  he  promptly  said,  "General,  you  are  very  tired; 
take  a  drop  of  the  cratur';  'twill  do  you  good,  and  then 
you  can  get  a  nap  till  half -past  one."  The  good  Father 
never  drank  a  drop  himself,  but  he  was  indefatigable  in 
his  care  for  his  wounded  and  wearied  people,  and  always 
carried  into  battle  a  quart  canteen  full  of  good  whiskey. 

Accordingly  I  was  aroused  at  half-past  one,  and  pro 
ceeded  to  hunt  up  my  new  command.  I  found  them 
peacefully  sleeping,  the  lines  of  white  blankets  look 
ing  weird  in  the  nickering  light  of  the  camp-fires. 
We  had  some  trouble  in  arousing  five  thousand  men 
under  such  circumstances.  One  fierce  old  Texan  called 


174 


RECOLLECTIONS 


out  to  me,  "Somebody '11  shoot  you  directly,  ef  you 
don't  quit  goin'  about  here  makin'  so  much  fuss!" 
But  we  got  them  into  the  road  at  last,  and  marched 
punctually  at  two  o'clock.  We  expected  to  encounter 
the  enemy  at  daylight. 

This  Texas  brigade  was  one  of  the  finest  bodies  of 
men  ever  seen  in  any  service,  but  had  no  idea  of  accu 
rate  discipline.  Their  colonel  was  a  very  handsome, 
poetical-looking  young  fellow,  with  voice  and  manner 
gentle  as  a  woman's,  and  the  heart  of  a  true  soldier  of 
Texas,  and  the  head  to  raise  him  afterwards  to  the 
Executive  Chair  of  his  great  State.  May  Heaven  soon 
send  him  there  again !  He  had  not  then  the  least  con 
ception  of  discipline;  so  I  and  my  staff  devoted  our 
selves  to  Ross'  brigade,  for  every  potato  patch  and 
green  apple  tree  drew  them  from  the  ranks  until  we 
drove  them  back  again.  On  the  march,  I  usually 
dressed  in  an  old  suit  of  corduroy  and  a  light  felt  hat, 
and  these  Texans  had  never  seen  or  heard  of  me  before. 

I  heard  one  fellow  say:  "I  wonder  who  that  little 
fellow  is,  in  that  white  coat,  anyhow?  Where  did  he 
come  from?  He's  goin'  to  keep  us  closed  up,  you  bet; 
he  keeps  on  at  it."  Another  called  out  to  his  comrades 
plundering  a  melon  patch,  "Look  out,  boys!  Here 
comes  the  pro  vo/"  A  third  informed  Ross,  confiden 
tially,  to  whom  he  was  giving  some  green  peas  just 
foraged,  "If  that  little  fellow  don't  quit  his  foolishness, 
he'll  git  the  stufnn'  knocked  out  of  him,  first  thing  he 
knows." 

I  devoted  especial  attention  to  this  brigade  for  nearly 
a  month,  and  they  hated  me  accordingly.  But  after  we 
had  been  into  action  together,  they  used  to  cheer  me 
whenever  they  saw  me,  and  called  me  "Little  Dab." 
One  thing  in  my  favor  with  those  Texans  was  my  fine 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  175 


horses,  and  the  way  they  would  carry  me  over  places 
when  some  of  the  staff  would  have  to  ride  around.  That 
brigade  and  Ector's  brigade  of  Texans,  and  the  famous 
Missouri  brigade,  organized,  instructed,  and  fought  by 
General  Henry  Little  of  Maryland,  and  my  Louisiana 
brigade  might  have  taken  the  contract  for  the  conquest 
of  the  Soudan,  and  would  have  kept  it,  too.  It  is  very 
certain  they  would  never  have  formed  a  square  in  an  ag 
gressive  campaign  or  made,  before  battle,  all  of  their 
preparations  for  defeat.  They  would  never  have  mur 
dered  a  wounded  man,  or  destroyed  the  Abb-bhu-Clea 
wells  when  defeated  there  and  compelled  to  retreat, 
for  they  were  true  men  and  self-reliant  soldiers.  Each 
man  with  his  repeating  rifle  was  a  small  fortress. 

After  Ross  had  remounted  his  brigade,  he  one  day 
caught  a  Federal  gunboat  on  the  Yazoo  River,  lying  in 
security  with  all  her  fires  out.  He  placed  a  section  of 
his  battery  above  her  and  another  below,  smashed  every 
boat  on  her,  and,  driving  her  people  all  under  deck, 
compelled  her  to  surrender.  He  had  no  boat  in  which 
to  board  her,  so  the  sergeant  of  the  battery  —  it  was  an 
Arkansas  battery  —  and  twelve  men  stripped,  swam  out 
to  the  steamer,  and,  stark  naked,  received  the  surrender. 
She  was  armed  with  six  twenty-four-pound  bronze  how 
itzers,  which  were  sent  to  me  at  Mobile,  and  did  great 
service  in  the  defence  of  Spanish  Fort.  Ross  has  now 
become  one  of  the  leaders  in  politics  in  his  State.  He 
is  gentle  as  ever,  and  has  always  been  an  example  of 
how  the  gentlest  are  ever  the  bravest.  He  is  a  man  of 
culture,  too,  "an  excellent  thing"  in  a  governor. 

After  we  drove  Sherman  from  Vicksburg,  in  Decem 
ber,  Grant,  having  been  defeated  in  his  invasion  of 
Mississippi  by  Van  Dorn's  brilliant  coup,  was  permitted 
to  organize  a  great  army  for  the  capture  of  that  city. 


176  RECOLLECTIONS 


He  brought  Sherman  back  there  with  him,  and  mean 
time  we  had  assembled  all  available  forces,  over  thirty 
thousand  effectives,  to  resist  his  attack.  Our  army 
extended  from  Haines  Bluff,  seventeen  miles  above  the 
city,  to  Warrenton,  ten  miles  below.  General  Johnston 
thought  that  this  was  a  faulty  disposition.  His  view 
was  that  a  strong  fort  should  have  been  made,  command 
ing  the  river  at  the  turn  above  the  city,  to  be  garrisoned 
by  two  or  three  thousand  good  troops,  and  the  rest  of  the 
army  left  to  operate  in  the  field. 

General  Carter  L.  Stevenson,  a  veteran  and  most 
complete  soldier,  commanded  Vicksburg  and  all  of  its 
dependencies.  He  assigned  me  to  the  command  of  all 
of  the  forces  above  the  town,  including  twenty  thousand 
men,  while  General  Barton  commanded  all  below  the 
town,  about  ten  thousand  men.  Stephen  D.  Lee  com 
manded  all  of  the  artillery  of  the  place. 

During  the  period  of  high  water,  all  of  the  streams 
were  in  flood,  and  Admiral  Porter  availed  himself  of 
the  opportunity  to  pass  with  his  light-draft  steamers  up 
into  one  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Yazoo,  get  above  Vicks 
burg,  and  cut  off  communication  with  its  back  country. 
Sherman  supported  the  movement  with  a  large  body  of 
troops,  and  it  seemed  very  near  to  success,  when  General 
Sam  Ferguson,  a  vigilant  and  daring  young  officer,  in 
tercepted  it,  stopped  Porter's  advance,  and  caused  his 
abandonment  of  the  whole  enterprise.  Along  my  part 
of  the  line  we  could  note  the  progress  of  the  expedition 
by  the  smoke  of  the  steamers  above  the  tree-tops,  eight 
or  ten  miles  in  my  front.  Ordering  Featherston's  bri 
gade  to  reinforce  Ferguson,  I  sent  Stephen  Lee  in  a 
skiff  through  the  overflow  to  see  if  it  were  practicable 
to  throw  a  force  behind  Sherman,  and  so  capture  the 
whole  expedition.  If  he  found  it  impossible  to  move 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  177 


a  sufficient  force  to  accomplish  this,  then  Lee  was  to 
make  a  demonstration  and  create  the  impression  that  he 
was  there  in  strength,  and  cause  the  information  to 
reach  Sherman,  so  as  to  lead  him  to  retreat.  This  was 
all  that  could  be  done  in  his  rear;  Ferguson  had  done 
all  possible  in  his  front.  Had  Ferguson  been  reinforced 
and  left  in  command,  it  seems  probable  we  should 
have  captured  that  whole  expedition  instead  of  only 
defeating  and  driving  it  away. 

Our  plan  was  successful,  and  the  whole  expedition 
was  a  failure,  and  retreated  precipitately  out  of  the 
country.  Ferguson  reported  the  abandonment  by  the 
enemy  of  ten  fine  boats  left  on  his  hands,  including 
the  commodore's  gig,  which  he  sent  to  us  at  Vicksburg, 
and  which  we  found  useful  as  a  flag-of-truce  boat.  This 
was  Sherman's  second  failure  with  which  Lee  and  I  had 
to  do.  But  for  Ferguson's  fine  conduct,  Porter  might 
have  reached  the  Yazoo. 

Soon  after  this  General  Quinby  came  down  through 
the  Yazoo  Pass,  with  a  corps,  intending  to  get  into  the 
Yazoo  River  at  Greenwood.  Loring  repulsed  and  de 
tained  him  there  until  I  could  get  to  him  with  a  force 
of  four  thousand  men  from  Vicksburg.  The  rivers  were 
out  of  their  banks,  the  lowlands  were  under  water,  skiffs 
were  moored  to  doors  of  the  farm-houses,  and  buffalo 
gnats  swarmed  over  the  horses  and  cattle.  I  lost  twenty- 
four  mules  one  night  from  their  poisonous  bites.  In 
repulsing  Quinby 's  advance,  Loring  used  the  famous 
Second  Texas  sharp-shooters,  who  fought  in  water  up 
to  their  waists.  I  could  scarce  find  dry  land  enough  on 
which  to  form  a  line  of  battle,  and  smokes  were  made 
all  along  the  line  that  the  horses  might  stand  in  them 
and  in  some  measure  be  protected  from  the  gnats. 

General  Lloyd  Tilghman  was  a  very  gallant  brigadier 


178  RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    VIRGINIAN 

from  Maryland,  whose  brigade  joined  my  right.  He 
proposed  that  we  should  try  and  break  up  the  enemy's 
headquarters  about  a  mile  away  from  our  front.  Tilgh- 
man  had  been  a  civil  engineer,  and  he  had  a  county  map 
showing  the  position  of  the  farm-house  where  Quinby 
had  his  headquarters.  He  trained  his  guns  by  the  com 
pass,  while  I  sent  in  a  body  of  sharp-shooters  through 
the  woods  upon  the  enemy's  right.  We  opened  at  the 
signal,  and  broke  up  the  whole  establishment,  which 
retreated  hastily  for  the  Mississippi  by  way  of  the 
Yazoo. 


CHAPTER  XV 

Mysterious  Disappearance  of  Young  John  Herndon  Maury  —  Grant  and 
Porter  aid  in  the  Search  for  him  —  Conjectures  and  Theories  regarding 
his  Fate  —  A  Christening  under  Fire  —  Anecdotes  of  Dr.  Lord — A 
Magnificent  Spectacle  when  Porter  ran  the  Vicksburg  Batteries  —  An 
Interrupted  Ball 

T  was  about  a  month  after  we  had  driven 
Sherman's  forces  away  from  our  front  that  an 
event  occurred  which  plunged  my  family  and 
staff  into  the  deepest  and  most  anxious  sus 
pense,  and  which  furnished  one  of  the  most  unusual  and 
inexplicable  mysteries  in  the  many  tragedies  of  all  the 
sorrowful*  period  of  our  Civil  War. 

One  morning  in  the  latter  part  of  January,  I,  accom 
panied  by  my  chief  of  artillery,  Colonel  Burnett,  and  my 
young  aide-de-camp,  John  Herndon  Maury,  son  of  Com 
modore  Maury,  rode  to  General  Stevenson's  headquarters, 
and,  after  the  conclusion  of  my  business  there,  sent  these 
two  gentlemen  of  my  staff  to  make  a  reconnoissance  near 
the  Big  Black  Road.  This  was  about  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  I  have  never  seen  my  young  aide-de-camp  and 
kinsman  since  that  moment,  nor  have  I  ever  been  able  to 
ascertain  what  was  his  fate. 

Burnett  returned  to  dinner  at  headquarters  and  reported 
that  at  about  one  o'clock  P.M.,  having  finished  their  busi 
ness  on  the  Big  Black  Road,  young  Maury  left  him  in 
order  to  ride  down  to  a  point  opposite  the  canal,  and 
observe  what  the  enemy  were  about  there.  No  uneasi- 

179 


180  RECOLLECTIONS 


ness  was  felt  on  account  of  his  non-return  that  night,  but 
when  ten  o'clock  next  morning  had  come  and  Johnny,  as 
every  one  called  him,  had  not  yet  been  seen  nor  heard  of, 
a  vague  anxiety  manifested  itself  among  us.  This  was 
soon  increased  by  hearing  that  on  the  previous  evening, 
about  three  o'clock,  Generals  Stevenson,  Barton,  and 
other  officers  familiar  with  John  Maury,  had  seen  a  rider 
less  horse,  resembling  his  gray  mare,  on  the  far  side  of  a 
crevasse  in  the  levee  on  the  plantation  of  Mr.  Smeeds, 
about  four  miles  below  Vicksburg. 

On  learning  this,  I,  accompanied  by  several  officers  and 
couriers,  rode  to  the  point,  and  found  John's  horse,  with 
saddle  on  and  bridle  hanging  loose.  A  strong  levee  had 
been  built  by  Mr.  Smeeds  from  the  highland,  more  than  a 
mile  distant,  in  order  to  shut  out  the  waters  of  a  bayou 
which  in  some  seasons  would  otherwise  inundate  his 
plantation.  Recently  this  bayou  had  torn  its  way  through 
the  levee,  making  a  breach  of  about  twenty  yards  in  width, 
through  which  the  water  was  now  running  deep.  The 
trail  of  the  mare  led  from  the  highlands  along  the  levee, 
entered  the  bayou  at  the  crevasse  and  passed  out  at  the 
other  side  ;  but  from  the  point  of  exit  the  mare  had  been 
running  back  and  forth  so  much  tliat  we  were  unable  to 
follow  the  trail  further.  We  concluded,  however,  that 
Maury  had  been  drowned  in  attempting  to  cross  the  water, 
and  immediately  procured  boats  and  proceeded  to  search 
for  his  body. 

This  was  continued  without  discovering  anything  which 
might  tend  to  confirm  our  belief  that  he  was  drowned, 
until  next  evening,  when  Colonel  Burnett,  an  experienced 
Texan  hunter,  reported  that  he  had  been  carefully  exam 
ining  the  tracks  of  the  mare,  and  that  from  his  obser 
vations  she  was  evidently  mounted  when  she  emerged 
from  the  bayou  beyond  the  crevasse ;  that  she  had  been 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN 


181 


ridden  at  a  trot  along  the  levee  to  a  point  not  far  from 
the  river ;  that  at  this  point  her  footprints  upon  the  levee 
ceased,  she  having  turned  off  from  it  into  the  overflow, 
made  a  detour  and  came  up  on  it  again  nearer  the 
crevasse ;  that  from  the  point  where  she  had  thus  come 
up  on  the  levee  she  had  galloped,  riderless,  back  to  the 
brink  of  the  crevasse,  near  which  she  remained  until  we 
found  her.  At  the  point  where  the  mare  had  turned  off, 
he  found  the  paper  cases  of  several  cartridges  different 
from  those  used  in  our  army,  and  also  a  fine  piece  of 
india-rubber,  such  as  the  Confederates  could  not  procure, 
which  had  been  used  to  cover  the  cone  of  a  rifle.  There 
were  also  evidences  of  a  struggle  on  the  brink  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  a  few  hundred  yards  distant,  where  he 
found  the  edge  of  the  bank  freshly  broken  off,  and  signs 
that  several  men  had  embarked  there  in  a  small  boat. 

The  space  in  which  the  young  officer's  body  must  lie 
had  he  been  drowned,  as  we  at  first  supposed,  was  small, 
and  as  no  trace  of  it  had  been  found  in  the  course  of  our 
thorough  search,  we  decided,  on  hearing  Burnett's  report, 
that  he  had  been  captured  by  some  scouting  party  from 
the  army  across  the  river,  and  had  been  borne  a  prisoner 
to  the  other  shore.  The  anxiety  of  his  friends  was  at 
once  allayed,  and  some  of  them  even  ventured  on  a  laugh 
at  his  expense ;  for  this  was  the  second  time  he  had 
experienced  capture  while  reconnoitring  alone.  Some 
of  Grant's  army  had  made  him  prisoner  in  November, 
near  Holly  Springs,  and  he  had  only  been  back  with  us 
a  month.  No  one  doubted  that  he  was  now  safe  and  in 
good  hands,  and  that  his  exchange  would  soon  be  effected. 

Next  morning  Major  Flowerree,  adjutant-general  of 
my  division,  was  sent  under  flag  of  truce  to  General 
Grant  to  make  inquiry  about  Lieutenant  Maury.  To  our 
grief  and  surprise,  he  returned  in  the  evening  with  the 


182  RECOLLECTIONS 


report  that  nothing  was  known  of  him  by  the  Federal 
commander ;  but  with  courteous  assurances  from  General 
Grant  and  Admiral  Porter,  who  knew  young  Maury  well, 
that  they  would  take  all  possible  means  to  ascertain  if  he 
had  been  taken  prisoner  by  any  party  of  theirs,  and  would 
communicate  to  me  the  earliest  intelligence  they  could 
procure.  Thus  we  were  again  thrown  back  upon  the  fear 
that  he  had  been  drowned  in  crossing  the  bayou,  and  for 
two  weeks  the  locality  where  his  mare  was  found  was 
watched,  cannon  were  fired  over  it,  and  all  the  space  was 
carefully  dragged. 

About  this  time  other  kindly  messages  were  received 
by  me  from  General  Grant  and  from  Admiral  Porter  and 
other  naval  officers,  assuring  me  that  great  pains  had  been 
taken  and  careful  inquiry  made  after  Lieutenant  Maury, 
but  that  they  had  ascertained  nothing  calculated  to  remove 
the  painful  belief  that  he  had  been  drowned.  General 
Grant  had  been  my  own  schoolmate  and  comrade  in  arms, 
and  my  young  cousin  was  well  known  to  Admiral  Porter 
and  other  officers  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  had  met 
him  while  he  was  a  boy  at  the  Observatory,  of  which  his 
father  was  so  long  the  chief.  The  conviction  was  then 
positive,  and  is  now,  that  those  officers  were  sincere  in 
their  efforts  to  find  him  and  to  aid  me  in  my  search. 

Some  months  had  passed,  when  reports  came  to  me 
from  several  sources  that  a  young  officer  named  Maury, 
an  aide-de-camp,  had  been  captured  near  Vicksburg,  and 
had  been  seen  in  Memphis  and  at  other  places  in  the 
spring,  on  his  way  to  the  prison  at  Johnson's  Island. 
Returned  prisoners  from  Johnson's  Island  reported  to  me 
that  they  had  seen  and  conversed  with  my  young  cousin 
there,  and  so  many  points  of  identity  were  established 
that  hope  revived  once  more,  but  only  to  be  lost  again  by 
learning  that  a  young  gentleman  named  James  Fontaine 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  183 


Maury,  while  serving  in  the  battle  near  Grand  Gulf  as 
aide-de-camp  to  General  Bowen,  had  been  made  prisoner 
in  May,  and  sent  to  Johnson's  Island.  A  very  remarkable 
personal  resemblance  between  John  Herndon  Maury  and 
James  Fontaine  Maury,  their  common  family  ties,  and 
identity  of  rank  and  of  age  —  they  were  both  nineteen 
years  old  —  frequently  caused  them  to  be  confounded 
with  each  other,  and  gave  rise  to  the  rumor  that  the 
former  was  still  alive. 

Soon  after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  when  in  Mobile, 
I  received  a  letter,  ill-written  and  from  an  evidently 
uneducated  writer,  informing  me  that  John  had  been 
made  a  prisoner  and  had  died  of  pneumonia  the  third 
day  after  his  capture,  on  board  a  Federal  gunboat  lying 
off  Vicksburg.  At  the  time  very  little  importance  was 
attached  to  this  letter,  but  not  long  after,  Colonel  Under- 
hill,  a  gallant  young  Scotchman,  who  had  resigned  his 
commission  in  the  British  army  to  serve  in  that  of  the 
Confederacy,  wrote  to  me  a  very  clear  and  consistent 
narrative  which  he  had  received  from  Captain  Smith  of 
the  Thirteenth  Iowa  regiment. 

Colonel  Underhill  and  Captain  Smith  were  from  the 
same  county  in  Scotland,  and  met  during  a  truce  between 
the  lines  at  Vicksburg,  Underhill  then  being  aide-de 
camp  to  General  Stephen  D.  Lee.  During  their  sociable 
conversation  on  this  occasion,  Smith  told  Underhill  that 
on  the  2yth  of  January  he  had  crossed  from  the  mouth  of 
the  canal  with  a  party  of  four  or  five  men  to  the  levee  on 
Smeeds'  plantation,  in  order  to  ascertain  if  we  were  con 
structing  any  batteries  there;  that  soon  after  reaching 
the  levee,  he  observed  a  Confederate  officer  riding  down 
it  toward  the  point  where  he  and  his  party  were  concealed, 
and,  lying  close,  they  waited  until  he  came  up  and  dis 
mounted.  While  he  was  looking  through  his  field-glasses 


184  RECOLLECTIONS 


at  the  Federal  works  on  the  opposite  bank,  Smith  and 
his  men  sprang  upon  him  and  secured  him.  The  mare 
broke  away  from  them,  ran  out  into  the  overflow,  and, 
remounting  the  levee,  galloped  back  to  the  point  whence 
she  had  come.  As  soon  as  it  became  dark,  Smith  and 
his  party  recrossed  the  river  with  their  prisoner  and  sent 
him  to  Grant's  headquarters,  where  he  believed  he  was 
when  my  flag  of  truce  came  to  inquire  for  him  two  days 
after.  Captain  Smith  showed  Underhill  the  field-glass 
which  he  had  taken  from  his  prisoner  and  retained  as  a 
trophy  of  his  exploit.  It  was  one  that  I  had  loaned  John 
that  morning,  and  was  marked  with  my  name  and  rank. 

There  are  several  points  in  this  narrative  which  render 
it  worthy  of  belief.  It  agreed  in  the  main  with  Burnett's 
observations  and  the  theory  deduced  from  them,  of  which 
neither  Smith  nor  Underhill  had  ever  heard.  There  was 
never  any  evidence  procured  of  the  drowning,  and  cap 
ture  was  the  probable  alternative.  The  field-glasses 
seemed  to  fix  the  latter  fact,  while  the  respectable  stand 
ing  of  the  two  gentlemen,  and  the  absence  of  any  motive 
or  object  for  such  a  fiction  leave  us  no  right  to  question 
any  part  of  their  story.  As  to  Smith's  belief  that  young 
Maury  was  at  Grant's  headquarters  while  that  general  was 
denying  all  knowledge  of  him,  we  must  remember  that 
Smith  could  only  know  that  Maury  had  been  sent  to  the 
headquarters ;  while  Grant,  having  just  arrived  at  the 
army  with  large  reinforcements,  and  being  occupied  in 
reorganizing  his  forces,  could  not  be  expected  to  be 
interested  or  even  informed  of  the  capture  of  a  lieutenant. 
I  have  never  doubted  the  sincerity  of  his  desire  to  aid  me 
as  far  as  possible  in  my  efforts  to  unravel  this  sad  mystery, 
and  believe  he  would  have  gladly  done  anything  in  his 
power  toward  it. 

The  writer  of  the  letter  I  received  at  Mobile  stated  that 


OF   A    VIRGINIAN  185 


my  cousin  died  of  pneumonia  three  days  after  his  capture. 
Soon  after  Underhill's  testimony  reached  me,  I  received  a 
verbal  message  from  a  lady  in  Vicksburg,  who  knew  me 
and  my  young  kinsman.  She  stated  that  a  lieutenant  of 
the  Federal  navy  came  to  her  house,  accompanied  by  a 
man  named  Griffen,  who  had  deserted  to  that  service,  and 
who  had  been  employed  about  my  headquarters,  and  who 
had  known  young  Maury.  Griffen  told  her  this  same 
story — of  young  Maury 's  being  ill  with  pneumonia  and 
dying  on  a  gunboat  within  three  days  of  his  capture. 

For  more  than  fifty  years  the  father,  the  uncles,  and 
many  other  relatives  of  this  young  gentleman  were  well- 
known  officers  of  the  naval  service  of  the  United  States. 
Having  passed  almost  his  whole  life  at  the  Observatory, 
he  was  himself  well  known  to  scores  of  naval  officers. 
These  circumstances,  coupled  with  the  further  facts  that 
he  was  a  staff-officer  of  the  general  second  in  command 
of  the  army  at  Vicksburg,  the  immediate,  active,  diligent, 
and  persistent  search  made  for  him,  the  cordial  interest 
evinced  by  Generals  Grant  and  Sherman,  Admiral  Porter, 
and  Captain  Breeze,  and  other  officers  of  the  Federal 
service  in  the  investigations  made  as  to  his  fate,  combine 
to  render  the  mystery  which  enshrouds  it  as  extraordinary 
as  it  is  inexplicable,  while  the  beautiful  traits,  the  fine 
intellect,  the  excellent  attainments,  and  the  gallant  yet 
gentle  bearing  of  the  young  soldier  invest  it  to  all  who 
knew  him  with  a  peculiar  and  especial  sadness.  Thirty 
years  have  come  and  gone  since  the  events  narrated  here 
took  place,  yet  not  once  has  the  curtain  which  shrouds 
the  actual  facts  in  this  pathetic  drama  of  the  war  been 
lifted ;  and  we  who  knew  and  loved  the  chief  actor  in  it 
shall  learn  no  more  until  we,  too,  have  followed  him  and 
crossed  to  the  other  shore. 

On  my  return  to  Vicksburg  after  the  Yazoo  expedition, 


186  RECOLLECTIONS 


I  found  orders  awaiting  me  to  proceed  at  once  to  Knox- 
ville  and  take  command  of  the  department  of  East  Ten 
nessee.  This  was  an  agreeable  promotion,  for  I  should 
escape  the  fate  of  Vicksburg,  and  be  so  far  on  my  way  to 
Virginia,  where  I  still  hoped  to  have  a  command  in  the 
field.  Before  leaving,  we  desired  to  have  our  little  son 
baptized,  and  the  good  Bishop  Green  of  Mississippi,  who 
was  in  the  city,  kindly  consented  to  perform  the  cere 
mony  at  my  headquarters.  General  Stevenson  was  god 
father,  and  the  members  of  my  staff  all  assembled  for  the 
occasion.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Lord,  the  dearly  loved  and  very 
able  rector  of  the  parish,  and  his  wife,  were  also  present. 
While  the  ceremony  was  progressing,  Grant  opened  a 
new  battery  upon  my  headquarters,  and  throughout  the 
baptismal  service  the  shriek  of  the  falling  shells  sounded 
in  our  ears :  one  of  them  actually  fell  in  the  stable  near 
at  hand  and  exploded  there ;  but  the  bishop  went  calmly 
on  until  the  end,  for  Vicksburg  had  been  under  bom 
bardment  so  long  and  without  fatal  results  that  all  were 
accustomed  to  it. 

Dr.  Lord  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  I  have 
ever  known.  He  was  for  many  years  the  rector  of  the 
church  in  Vicksburg,  where  he  won  the  confidence  and 
affection  of  his  people  by  his  precept  and  example,  too. 
His  wonderful  versatility  of  information  and  his  charming 
conversational  capacity  made  him  a  welcome  guest  in 
every  home  in  his  parish. 

Some  time  after  the  war,  while  I  was  the  guest  of  Major 
Flowerree  in  Vicksburg,  Dr.  Lord  was  invited  to  dine 
with  me.  The  night  before  I  had  been  to  see  Ben  de 
Bar  play  Falstaff —  the  best  Falstaff  I  have  ever  seen. 
Dr.  Lord  took  up  the  subject,  and  made  the  most  inter 
esting  discussion  of  Shakespeare's  greatest  character  I 
had  ever  listened  to.  He  plainly  proved  that  Falstaff  was 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  187 


no  coward,  and  when  I  asked  for  his  exposition  of  the 
difference  between  wit  and  humor,  he  recapitulated  the 
history  of  the  Fat  Knight,  showing  where  he  was  witty, 
where  humorous,  and  where  both  witty  and  humorous. 
We  listened  to  him,  absorbed,  for  an  hour,  when  he  left 
us  to  attend  to  some  parochial  duty.  As  soon  as  he  had 
gone,  I  said  to  Flowerree,  "  I  have  never  had  such  a 
treat ;  I  seem  to  have  struck  upon  Dr.  Lord's  specialty." 

"  You  were  never  more  mistaken  in  your  life,"  he  re 
plied.  "  No  matter  what  the  subject  is,  he  seems  to  have 
mastered  it.  Some  years  ago  there  was  a  club  of  intelli 
gent  gentlemen  here  in  Vicksburg,  who  met  to  enjoy  con 
versation.  Dr.  Lord  was  a  member,  and  no  matter  what 
might  be  the  question  under  discussion,  he  was  the  mas 
ter  of  it.  One  day  Dr.  Crump  received  a  new  book  upon 
whaling  and  other  arctic  experiences ;  I  believe  it  was 
called  '  Three  Years  before  the  Mast.'  He  read  the 
book  and  was  charmed  with  it,  and  passed  it  around  to 
several  other  gentlemen  of  the  club,  that  they  might  also 
read  it  and  introduce  the  subject  at  their  next  gathering, 
and  for  once  know  something  with  which  Dr.  Lord  was 
not  familiar. 

"  Accordingly,  when  the  evening  came,  the  subject  of 
whale-fishing  was  taken  up  by  these  freshly  informed  gen 
tlemen,  with  the  expectation  that  their  rector  would  for 
once  be  at  a  loss,  but  they  reckoned  without  their  host ; 
for  in  a  few  moments  the  reverend  gentleman  took  up 
his  parable,  and  instructed  them  all  in  facts  about  whales 
and  the  Arctic  Circle,  such  as  they  had  never  heard  of 
before,  and  finally  informed  them  he  had  been  a  sailor 
on  that  very  ship  they  had  been  reading  about."  He 
remained  with  his  people  during  the  severe  trials  and 
dangers  of  their  terrible  siege,  and  ever  bore  with  him 
their  affectionate  and  grateful  memories. 


188  RECOLLECTIONS 

On  the  night  after  the  christening,  my  wife  awoke  about 
midnight,  saying,  "  Dab,  the  pickets  are  firing  on  your 
lines  ! "  I  sprang  up  and  called  to  Jem  to  saddle  my  horse. 
He  seemed  to  be  always  awake,  no  matter  at  what 
hour  he  might  be  called,  and  he  could  "  catch  a  horse  " 
quicker  than  any  one  I  ever  saw.  By  the  time  I  was 
booted  and  spurred,  the  horse  was  ready  at  the  door,  and 
I  mounted  and  galloped  off  towards  the  firing.  All  of 
my  staff  were  at  a  ball ;  but  as  I  passed  my  couriers'  quar 
ters  I  shouted  for  them  to  turn  out  and  follow,  and  as 
I  crossed  the  bridge  I  heard  the  clatter  of  horses'  feet 
behind  and  found  one  of  my  smartest  Texans  was  close  at 
hand.  He  joined  me,  and  together  we  mounted  the  hill 
overlooking  the  river  in  time  to  see  the  passage  of  Porter's 
whole  fleet,  as  he  came  around  the  bend  above  the  city 
and  past  its  front,  on  his  way  down  to  unite  with  Farragut. 

It  was  the  grandest  spectacle  of  my  life.  For  four 
miles  our  batteries  were  in  full  play,  blazing  away  at  the 
line  of  gunboats  making  their  way  past  them,  and  giving 
shot  for  shot  as  they  went  swiftly  by.  The  whole  land 
scape  was  as  light  as  day,  for  before  the  first  steamer 
swung  round  the  point,  our  pickets  across  the  river  had 
promptly  fired  their  calcium  lights  and  had  set  torches  to 
the  huge  piles  of  pine  which  stood  ready  at  hand,  and 
were  then  securely  under  cover.  Porter  gamely  led,  and 
hove  to  off  the  town  to  send  a  few  shots  along  its  streets, 
which  stampeded  the  entire  population,  especially  the 
ball,  whence  the  gallant  young  officers  dashed  away  to 
their  posts,  leaving  the  ladies  to  their  own  devices.  These 
fled  in  their  slippered  feet  and  light  robes  for  the  nearest 
shelter.  Vicksburg  was  well  supplied  with  bomb-proofs, 
into  which  whole  families  might  retire  when  a  bombard 
ment  was  hot,  but  some  of  the  belles,  panic-stricken,  that 
night  did  not  stop  even  there,  but  hurried  over  the  muddy 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  189 


roads  until  they  were  out  of  cannon  range,  and  took 
refuge  in  the  nearest  country  houses. 

Believing  that  Porter's  whole  fleet  would  join  in  the 
bombardment  of  the  city,  I  sent  a  courier  back  to  my 
wife,  with  instructions  to  get  at  once  in  the  ambulance 
and  drive  out  of  the  town  until  she  reached  a  position 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  enemy's  guns,  but  she  decided 
to  remain  where  she  was,  and  stayed  serenely  there, 
explaining  to  me  afterwards  that  she  "  did  not  wish  to 
take  the  baby  into  the  night  air." 

The  value  of  Vicksburg  was  now  gone,  for  Grant  could 
cross  over  below  the  city.  Stevenson  immediately  or 
dered  every  man,  except  the  guards  of  the  batteries,  to 
march  at  once  below  Vicksburg  and  defeat  his  landing. 
Pemberton  countermanded  the  order,  permitting  only 
Tracey's  brigade  and  CockrelPs  Missouri  brigade  to  go 
to  meet  him.  These  fine  troops  under  General  Bowen 
detained  Grant  a  day  or  two ;  Stevenson's  whole  army 
would  have  driven  him  into  the  river. 

Next  day  I  went  off  to  Knoxville,  where  I  remained  for 
about  six  weeks  in  command  of  the  department  of  East 
Tennessee.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  we  were  the  recipients 
of  much  kindness  ;  Mrs.  Sanborn,  who  had  a  lovely  home 
in  the  suburbs,  being  especially  hospitable  to  us. 


CHAPTER   XVI 

Transferred  to  the  Command  of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  at  Mobile  — 
Experiences  with  "  Galvanized  Yankees  "  —  How  a  Spy  was  trapped  — 
Colonel  Henry  Maury's  Adventurous  Career — His  Coolness  and 
Bravery  in  Peril  —  A  Duel  —  Tried  by  Court-Martial  and  acquitted  — 
Anecdotes  of  Bishop  Wilmer,  of  Alabama 

(T  the  end  of  six  weeks  I  was  ordered  to  take 
command  of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf, 
with  headquarters  at  Mobile,  altogether  an 
interesting  and  agreeable  command.  No 
kinder  or  more  generous  people  ever  lived  than  these. 
Some  time  after  our  arrival,  Judge  Dargan  came  to  me 
and,  introducing  himself,  placed  his  furnished  house  at 
our  disposal.  It  was  elegant  and  comfortable,  with 
ample  lawn  and  garden,  and  here  we  lived  until  the  end 
of  the  war.  The  judge  occupied  one  room  in  the  wing, 
and  came  every  evening  into  our  sitting-room  to  con 
verse  with  us,  and  became  a  warm  and  lifelong  friend 
of  me  and  of  mine.  His  own  family  had  moved  up 
to  Tuskeegee  for  the  war. 

Soon  after  assuming  command  of  the  Department  of 
the  Gulf,  I  was  notified  that  a  steamer  under  flag  of 
truce  would  arrive  in  Mobile  Bay  with  the  sick  and 
wounded  Confederate  soldiers  from  Vicksburg.  This 
was  one  of  the  many  considerate  and  kindly  acts  of 
General  Grant,  who  never  made  war  upon  women  or 
other  unfortunates  who  might  fall  in  his  power.  Of 
this,  and  of  all  the  other  qualities  of  a  soldier's  charac- 

190 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    VIRGINIAN  191 

ter,  he  has  left  his  record  in  the  grateful  memories  of 
the  Southern  people.  We  cordially  welcomed  our  weary 
and  wounded  comrades,  and  went  down  in  steamers  to 
meet  them  and  escort  them  to  that  charming  bay-shore 
resort  at  Point  Clear,  where  the  hotel  and  cottages 
awaited  their  reception,  and  no  soldiers  of  the  Confed 
eracy  ever  enjoyed  a  happier  destiny  than  these  in  ex 
changing  the  damp  and  soggy  climate  of  Vicksburg  for 
the  fresh  salt  breezes  and  sparkling  waters  of  Mobile 
Bay,  with  its  fishing  and  bathing  and  famous  oysters, 
and  now  and  then  a  boat-load  of  limes  and  bananas  and 
other  tropical  luxuries  brought  in  by  the  blockade- 
runners. 

As  I  went  from  cot  to  cot  in  my  visits  through  the 
wards  of  our  temporary  hospitals,  I  noticed  a  poor, 
emaciated  lad  of  not  more  than  sixteen  years,  who 
seemed  very  near  to  death's  door.  I  inquired  of  him 
as  to  his  name  and  home,  and  he  replied,  "  My  name 
is  Waymack,  and  I  am  from  Hanover  County,  Virginia." 
He  had  been  a  member  of  a  Virginia  artillery  company, 
and  I  did  my  best  to  make  him  feel  that  he  was  once 
more  in  the  house  of  his  friends.  Under  good  care  and 
the  healthful  climate,  he  rallied,  and  as  soon  as  his  com 
pany  was  fit  for  duty  I  made  it  the  headquarters  guard  of 
my  department.  I  found  great  comfort  in  my  Virginia 
guard,  and  a  sense  of  mutual  good  feeling  existed  be 
tween  them  and  the  members  of  my  household,  which 
was  not  a  little  enhanced  by  my  wife's  invariable 
remembrance  of  them  at  dinner-time.  A  year  or  so 
before  the  final  engagements  which  terminated  the  siege 
of  Mobile,  two  battalions  of  "Galvanized  Yankees" 
were  sent  to  me,  to  form  part  of  my  army.  They  had 
been  captured  in  some  recent  battle,  and  being  all  Irish 
men  declared  that  they  would  rather  fight  for  us  than  for 


192  RECOLLECTIONS 


the  North,  and  were  accordingly  sworn  in  to  serve  till 
the  end  of  the  war,  and  duly  enrolled  and  equipped.  I 
sent  them  up  to  meet  a  raid  into  Mississippi,  but  no 
sooner  did  the  rascals  come  in  sight  of  the  blue  uniforms 
than  they  raised  the  white  flag,  and,  going  over  in  a  body, 
surrendered  at  discretion. 

One  day,  some  months  after  this,  Waymack  came  to 
my  office  and  stated  that  he  had  something  very  impor 
tant  to  tell  me.  He  was  very  much  excited  and  alarmed 
lest  his  interview  with  me  should  be  known.  I  satisfied 
his  fears,  and  he  informed  me  that  in  the  same  fort  in 
which  his  battery  was  then  stationed,  Fort  Jeb  Stuart, 
in  a  company  of  the  First  Louisiana  .Artillery,  there 
were  two  "Galvanized  Yankees,"  who  were  preparing 
to  desert  to  the  enemy,  and  to  take  with  them  drawings 
and  plans  of  the  defences  of  Mobile.  They  were  Ger 
mans,  he  said,  and  very  powerful  men,  and  one  of  them 
had  been  made  a  sergeant.  A  man  residing  in  Mobile 
was  their  accomplice. 

I  assured  the  boy  of  his  absolute  safety,  commended 
his  zeal  and  courage,  and  enjoined  on  him  increased 
vigilance  as  to  the  conduct,  etc.,  of  the  spies.  I  then 
sent  for  General  Cockrell,  commanding  the  famous 
Missouri  brigade,  now  a  staunch  and  able  member 
from  Missouri  in  the  United  States  Senate,  and  asked 
him  to  select  from  among  his  men  a  good  and  efficient 
detective  from  St.  Louis,  and  detach  him  to  report  to 
me  for  special  service,  cautioning  him  and  Colonel 
Fuller,  of  the  First  Louisiana  Artillery,  to  make  no  com 
ment  on  the  irregularity  of  the  order.  I  transferred  the 
Missouri  sergeant  to  the  Louisiana  company,  where  he 
soon  won  the  confidence  of  the  intending  deserters,  and, 
together  with  a  trustworthy  comrade  of  his  own,  entered 
into  their  plans.  I  was  especially  anxious  to  get  hold 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  193 


of  the  citizen  of  Mobile  who  was  their  confederate  in 
the  proposed  treachery,  and  the  detective  fully  shared 
this  desire,  and  delayed  the  time  of  their  desertion 
until  he  found  the  spies  impatient  to  be  off,  and,  he 
thought,  somewhat  suspicious  of  him. 

They  got  all  of  the  plans  of  Mobile  and  its  defences, 
etc.,  completed,  and  set  out  at  midnight  through  the 
pines  toward  Pascagoula,  near  which  the  Federal  army 
lay.  The  Confederate  sergeant  and  his  comrade  bore 
them  company  for  some  miles  from  Mobile,  when  each 
man  closed  with  his  antagonist.  Next  day  my  two 
emissaries  returned,  bringing  me  the  papers  they  had 
taken  from  the  deserters.  They  would  have  been  of 
inestimable  value  to  the  enemy  in  his  attack  upon  the 
place.  The  Confederate  sergeant  told  me  that  in  all  of 
his  experience  as  a  detective,  he  had  never  had  to  deal 
with  so  clever  and  dangerous  a  man  as  that  German 
sergeant  was.  In  the  chances  and  changes  of  the  years 
since  then,  I  have  lost  sight  of  little  Waymack,  although 
I  have  tried  to  learn  something  of  his  whereabouts,  but 
I  hope  he  is  alive  and  prosperous;  for  he  was  as  game 
and  true  a  lad  as  I  ever  knew. 

Until  Farragut's  fleet  entered  Mobile  Bay,  the  block 
ade  runners  were  very  active  carrying  out  cotton  and 
bringing  in  stores  from  Havana,  and  thus  we  were  still 
in  touch  with  the  outer  world,  and  Mobile  was  to  our 
western  armies  what  Richmond  was  to  the  army  of 
Virginia.  Spies,  too,  were  active  there,  spies  for  us 
and  spies  for  General  Banks,  sometimes  for  both  at 
once.  Many  applications  were  made  to  me  to  permit 
the  government  cotton  at  Mobile  to  be  traded  with  the 
Federal  government  for  army  supplies,  but  as  I  required 
the  supplies  to  be  delivered  first,  nothing  was  ever 
accomplished  except  that  I  was  ordered  by  our  govern- 


194  RECOLLECTIONS 


ment  to  send  one  thousand  bales  of  cotton  to  New  York 
to  be  used  to  buy  overcoats  and  blankets  for  our  pris 
oners.  An  agreement  was  entered  into  between  the  two 
governments,  and  General  Beal,  a  prisoner  of  war,  was 
released  and  stationed  in  New  York  to  receive  and  sell 
the  cotton,  which  was  done  with  the  fidelity  of  that 
most  excellent  officer  and  gentleman. 

One  day,  in  1865,  a  man  came  to  me  with  papers  ap 
proved  by  Lincoln,  Stanton,  and  Farragut,  authorizing 
him  to  exchange  army  supplies  with  me  for  cotton.  He 

was  a  pleasant-looking  man,  whom  I  will  call  S . 

He  said  he  was  from  North  Carolina,  and  an  ardent 
Southern  sympathizer,  a  class  which  I  have  always  felt 
would  bear  watching.  I  told  him  that  many  such  prop 
ositions  had  reached  me,  but  that  no  trade  could  be 
made,  because  his  government  wished  to  have  the 
cotton  before  delivering  the  stores,  and  I  must  have 
the  stores  before  delivering  the  cotton.  He  thought  he 
could  arrange  to  give  me  the  stores  first,  and  receive  the 
cotton  at  Mobile  in  payment,  so  I  told  him  to  go  ahead 
and  see  what  he  could  do.  The  provost-marshal  fur 
nished  him  with  passes  to  go  and  come  between  the 
Federal  commander  General  Gordon  Granger  and  my 
self,  and  at  the  same  time  had  him  closely  watched, 
and  he  went  back  and  forth  many  times,  but  made  no 
progress  in  our  trade. 

Many  weeks  passed  in  these  fruitless  efforts,  and 
meantime  the  enemy  was  making  his  grand  and  final 
preparations  for  the  reduction  of  Mobile,  and  I,  by  my 
complete  system  of  scouts,  was  daily  posted  as  to  his 
force  and  movements.  One  Sunday  there  was  a  ring  at 

my  door,  and  the  servant  announced  that  Mr.  S 

wished  to  see  me  on  urgent  business.  My  wife,  who 
was  sitting  with  me,  left  the  room,  and  he  was  ushered 
in,  somewhat  flustered  by  the  import  of  his  tidings. 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  195 


"I  am  just  from  General  Granger  at  Pascagoula,"  he 
said,  "and  Canby's  army  is  actually  marching  against 
you."  All  of  which  I  already  knew.  After  I  had  heard 
him  through,  and  had  got  all  he  could  or  would  tell,  he 
drew  from  his  breast  pocket  a  package  of  assorted  kid 
gloves  and  handed  them  to  me,  "  as  a  present  for  your 
lady."  I  kindly  declined  them  for  her,  saying  she  was 
already  sufficiently  supplied  with  gloves.  He  seemed 
a  little  mortified  that  I  did  so,  and  retired  at  once.  My 
wife  came  in  to  hear  the  news  of  the  enemy,  and  I  said 

to  her,  "  Mr.  S was  very  kind,  for  he  brought  you 

a  dozen  of  Jouvin's  kids."  Beaming  with  delight,  she 
said,  "Oh,  where  are  they?" 

"I  declined  them,  telling  him  you  were  sufficiently 
supplied." 

"How  could  you  tell  such  a  story,  when  you  know 
that  I  have  not  had  a  kid  glove  on  for  a  year ! " 

"But,"  I  urged,  "remember  that  I  may  have  to  hang 
him  to-morrow,  and  it  would  never  do  for  you  to  be 
wearing  those  gloves  then." 

Sure  enough,  the  next  day  a  worthy  young  officer 
attached  to  my  headquarters,  Major  Sam  Duncan,  of 

Natchez,  gave  me  a  letter  brought  to  him  by  S from 

Duncan's  father  in  New  York,  telling  him  the  days  of 
the  Confederacy  were  numbered,  that  he  must  get  out 
of  it  at  once,  and  that  a  man-of-war's  boat  would 
receive  him  near  Dog  River  and  take  him  aboard  of  a 

vessel  bound  for  New  York,  etc.  Accordingly,  S 

was  closely  watched,  and  that  evening,  fifteen  minutes 
before  the  train  left  for  Meridian,  he  was  arrested 
and  taken  up  to  the  prison  there,  to  be  dealt  with 
when  a  court  should  have  time  to  try  him.  A  few 
weeks  after,  the  surrender  came,  and  he,  with  all  other 
prisoners,  was  liberated,  and  so  it  happened  I  never 
hanged  a  man. 


196  RECOLLECTIONS 


I  never  saw  S until  six  or  eight  months  after  the 

war.  I  was  on  my  way  from  the  depot  to  the  Battle 
House,  in  Mobile,  when  I  saw  a  man  approaching  me, 

whom,  as  he  drew  near,  I  recognized  as  S .  He  came 

straight  for  me,  and  I  knew  he  was  after  me.  There 
was  nobody  in  sight,  and  I  was  convinced  that  a  severe 
beating  was  the  least  that  I  could  expect;  for  he  was  a 
very  able-bodied  fellow  and  had  me  in  his  power,  I 

being  entirely  unarmed.  What  was  my  relief,  as  S 

drew  near,  to  observe  a  kindly  smile  stealing  over  his 
face,  as  he  extended  his  hand  to  seize  mine,  saying, 
"General  Maury,  I  have  come  for  the  honor  of  shaking 
you  by  the  hand,  and  telling  you  that,  by  G — d,  sir,  you 
are  the  only  honest  man  that  I  met  during  the  war  from 
Abe  Lincoln  down !  "  I  never  shook  a  man's  hand  with 
more  sincere  pleasure  in  all  my  life,  and  as  soon  as  I 
could  I  wrote  my  wife  how  those  gloves  had  saved  me. 
Some  weeks  ago  I  went  into  the  office  of  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  when  a  man  sprang  up  from  the  sofa  and 

claimed  acquaintance,  saying,  "  I  am  S ,  whom  you 

tried  to  hang  in  Mobile."  I  informed  him  I  felt  glad 
I  did  not  do  it.  On  further  talk  he  told  me  he  was  so 
anxious  to  shake  hands  at  our  last  meeting  because  he 
was  afraid  of  me. 

During  thy  command  of  that  department,  General 
Bragg  invited  me  to  accept  a  fine  command  in  his  army, 
which  I  declined,  preferring  to  be  directly  under  the 
control  of  the  War  Department,  as  I  then  was.  After 
wards  Hood  applied  to  the  President  to  have  me  ap 
pointed  lieutenant-general,  and  ordered  to  a  corps  of 
his  army,  but  the  President  replied  I  could  not  then  be 
taken  from  Mobile,  but  he  would  promote  me  to  the  rank 
of  lieutenant-general.  He  told  General  Taylor  this,  and 
in  Mrs.  Davis'  book  she  states  that  such  was  his  purpose. 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  197 

During  all  the  period  of  my  service  at  Mobile,  my 
kinsman,  Colonel  Henry  Maury,  was  with  me,  and  no 
man  in  the  community  had  more  friends,  perhaps,  than 
he.  His  handsome  face,  cordial  manner,  and  ready 
wit  attracted  toward  him  every  one  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact.  His  courage  was  unquestioned,  while  his 
loyalty  to  his  friends,  and  his  kindness  of  heart,  won 
him  lasting  esteem.  He  had  gone  from  Fredericks- 
burg  to  Mobile  while  yet  a  youth,  and  made  his  home 
there.  He  entered  the  Navy  as  a  boy,  and  was  present 
at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  Afterward  he  entered  the 
merchant  service,  and  by  the  time  he  was  twenty  years 
old  had  command  of  a  barque.  General  Walker,  the 
filibuster,  employed  him  to  take  a  battalion  of  recruits 
down  to  Nicaragua.  Mr.  Marcy,  the  Secretary  of  State, 
sent  a  marshal  in  a  revenue  cutter  to  detain  him  in 
Mobile  Bay.  Harry  received  the  marshal  courteously, 
and  acquiesced  in  his  own  detention.  He  took  him 
into  his  cabin,  and  entertained  him  with  lavish  hospi 
tality,  when  he  persuaded  his  guest  to  sleep  aboard  the 
barque,  urging  that  he  could  not  possibly  escape  with 
his  ship,  for  the  cutter  was  lying  close  by  and  he  would 
show  a  lantern  from  the  barque's  peak  all  night,  all  of 
which  the  marshal  understood,  and  retired  to  sleep. 

After  some  hours,  all  being  quiet  aboard  both  vessels, 
Henry  shifted  the  lantern  from  the  peak  to  the  end  of  a 
long  spar  which  he  let  down  into  the  mud  of  the  bottom. 
The  wind  favored  him,  he  slipped  his  cable,  dropped 
down  the  bay,  and  by  daylight  was  out  of  sight  of  land, 
and  well  on  his  way  towards  his  destination.  It  was 
not  until  the  second  day  that  he  met  a  vessel  bound  for 
the  States,  to  which  he  courteously  transferred  his  guest, 
with  an  apologetic  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  State  for 
having  been  compelled  to  take  such  a  liberty.  He  was 


198  RECOLLECTIONS 

short-handed,  his  filibusters  could  aid  his  crew  but  little 
in  the  stormy  weather  they  encountered,  and  the  Susan 
was  wrecked  off  the  island  of  Ruatan.  None  were  lost, 
and  the  British  governor  treated  them  with  so  much 
kindness  that  his  government  recalled  him. 

After  the  close  of  the  troubles  in  Nicaragua,  a  Captain 
Henri  de  Riviere,  who  had  been  dismissed  from  the 
French  army  and  had  cast  his  lot  with  General  Walker's 
expedition,  returned  with  the  surviving  adventurers  to 
Mobile,  and  became  a  favorite  in  the  gay  society  there. 
His  impudent  deportment  aroused  Henry's  indignation, 
and  a  duel  resulted.  A  steamer  took  the  duellists  down 
to  Pascagoula.  Doctors  Knott  and  Ross  went  along  as 
surgeons,  and  a  great  many  gentlemen  of  Mobile,  who 
desired  "to  see  Harry  shoot  the  Frenchman." 

I  was  told  by  several  eye-witnesses  the  remarkable 
history  of  this  curious  affair.  The  ground  was  near  the 
residence  of  the  proprietor,  and  a  hammock  was  swing 
ing  in  the  veranda.  Captain  de  Riviere  advanced  to 
Captain  Maury  and  asked  if  he  might  take  an  hour's  nap 
in  that  hammock,  as  he  felt  very  nervous.  His  request 
was  granted,  and  his  second  aroused  him  at  the  end  of 
an  hour.  He  arose  apparently  quite  refreshed,  and 
took  his  place  for  the  duel.  They  were  to  begin  firing 
with  revolvers  at  twelve  paces,  to  advance  a  pace  after 
each  shot,  and  to  stop  if  either  fell.  At  the  first  shot, 
the  Frenchman  staggered  backwards  and  seemed  about  to 
fall.  His  antagonist  lowered  his  pistol,  but  kept  his 
thumb  upon  the  hammer  and  his  eye  upon  his  enemy, 
whom  he  detected  in  the  act  of  cocking  his  pistol,  but 
before  he  could  raise  it  and  fire  Maury  shot  him  in  the 
mouth.  He  was  taken  to  the  home  of  a  gentleman  in 
Mobile,  whose  sympathetic  wife  and  beautiful  daughter 
cared  for  him  during  some  weeks. 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  199 


When  he  had  recovered  sufficiently  to  travel,  he  de 
parted,  accompanied  by  his  devoted  nurses.  The  head 
of  the  family  went  in  pursuit  of  them,  reaching  Havana 
just  after  they  had  left  for  Nassau,  and  arriving  at 
Nassau  after  they  had  sailed  for  New  York.  In  New 
York  their  escapade  was  arrested  by  a  lady  who  came 
out  of  a  convent  and  claimed  Captain  Henri  de  Riviere 
as  her  lawfully  wedded  spouse.  Then  at  last  the  bereft 
husband  and  father  recovered  his  delinquent  family,  and 
returned  with  them  to  Mobile.  Towards  the  close  of 
the  war  between  the  States,  the  Marquis  de  Riviere  died 
in  France,  leaving  his  great  fortune  to  his  younger 
brother,  Captain  de  Riviere.  The  head  of  the  enam 
oured  family  still  living  in  Mobile  assented  to  the  urgent 
request  of  the  new  marquis  that  he  would  escort  his  wife 
and  daughter  to  Paris,  where  the  latter  became  the 
Marquise  de  Riviere.  They  lived  in  great  splendor 
till  the  Franco-Prussian  War,  when  the  marquis  was 
killed  in  battle. 

During  the  war  between  the  States,  Colonel  Maury 
commanded  the  lower  defences  in  Mobile  Bay.  One 
day  he  went  up  to  Mobile  in  the  steamer  which  plied 
between  Fort  Morgan  and  the  city.  He  reached  the 
evening  boat  too  late,  but  persuaded  a  boatman  to  take 
him  down  the  bay  in  his  skiff.  The  wind  was  blowing 
half  a  gale  and  rising,  and  the  little  craft  bounded  over 
the  heavy  seas,  sometimes  half  hidden  from  the  view  of 
the  anxious  watchers  on  the  wharves  of  the  city.  The 
approach  to  Fort  Morgan  was  more  anxiously  watched 
by  the  garrison,  all  of  whom  came  out  upon  the  wharf. 
They  feared  their  colonel  was  in  that  boat,  knowing  well 
his  daring  nature.  When  the  dingy  reached  the  landing- 
place  it  was  impossible  to  land,  so  violent  was  the  rush 
of  the  water  seaward.  The  colonel  sprang  into  the 


200  RECOLLECTIONS 

raging  sea,  and,  swimming  to  land,  called  for  volunteers 
to  man  the  launch  and  go  with  him  to  the  rescue  of  the 
boatman,  who  was  being  rapidly  borne  out  to  the  Gulf, 
where  he  would  inevitably  perish.  The  launch,  steered 
by  his  own  steady  hand,  soon  overhauled  and  rescued  the 
poor  fellow.  This  was  only  one  of  the  many  noble 
feats  of  daring  which  marked  his  whole  life. 

General  Gordon  Granger  was  stationed  with  his  corps 
at  Pascagoula  a  month  or  two  previous  to  the  attack  on 
Mobile.  Thence  he  detached  a  brigade  to  a  narrow  but 
deep  creek  about  half-way  to  Mobile,  and  I  ordered 
Colonel  Maury  with  three  regiments  of  horse  to  go 
down  and  force  the  brigade  back  into  Pascagoula. 
Soon  after  he  marched,  a  courier  came  in  hot  haste, 
bearing  a  dispatch  from  Colonel  Maury,  reporting  his 
progress.  I  think  that  when  he  sent  it  he  was  about 
three  miles  from  town.  I  thought  it  very  unaccountable 
until  several  other  equally  unimportant  bulletins  arrived, 
when  I  said,  "  Henry  is  drunk,  and  nothing  will  come 
of  his  expedition";  and  so  it  was.  Next  day  he  came 
back,  having  done  nothing,  and  I  was  not  surprised 
when  charges  of  drunkenness  were  preferred  against  him 
by  officers  of  his  command.  I  ordered  him  under 
arrest,  and  to  be  tried  by  the  military  court  of  the  de 
partment.  To  my  surprise,  he  was  acquitted,  and  I 
asked  the  president-colonel-judge  how  it  happened. 
He  said,  "Three  officers  of  high  intelligence  and  charac 
ter  swore  that  he  was  drunk,  and  we  all  thought  that  he 
was  done  for  and  deeply  deplored  it,  for  we  all  love 
him;  but  bless  your  soul,  sir,  Harry  produced  six  offi 
cers  of  equal  character,  who  swore,  point-blank,  that  he 
was  sober,  and  we  had  to  acquit  him !  " 

When  I  sent  Colonel  Maury  into  Jones  County  to 
break  up  that  secession  movement,  he  dealt  with  the 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  201 


traitors  very  roughly,  so  that  after  the  war  he  was  pur 
sued  very  actively  by  the  survivors,  and  his  fine  horses 
were  seized.  The  aid  of  the  United  States  troops  was 
invoked,  and  would  have  been  employed,  but  that  I 
went  to  see  General  Canby  about  it,  and  he  at  once 
peremptorily  forbade  it.  Meantime  the  colonel  went 
to  Selma  and  secured  the  protection  of  the  Federal 
commander  there,  a  kindly  old  Scotchman,  who,  like 
many  other  good  and  sensible  people,  was  charmed  by 
Henry's  wit  and  bonhomie.  He  invited  the  colonel 
to  a  sumptuous  lunch,  at  which  there  was  a  big  Federal 
major,  who  seemed  inclined  to  quarrel  with  Henry,  who 
never  needed  two  invitations  to  a  fight.  Toasts  and 
songs  went  round,  and  the  major  made  several  flings  at 
the  colonel,  who  treasured  them  up,  until  presently 
Colonel  Maury  was  called  upon  for  a  song.  He  said 
if  the  company  would  accept  the  change,  he  would  offer 
a  conundrum  instead  of  a  song.  The  proposition  was 
vociferously  applauded,  the  big  major  being  among 
the  most  enthusiastic.  "  Why  are  the  Confederates  like 
Lazarus?"  asked  Maury.  The  major  gave  a  contempt 
uous  solution.  "No,"  said  the  colonel,  reaching  across 
the  table  to  indicate  and  emphasize  his  reply;  "be 
cause  we  have  been  licked  by  dogs ! "  The  Scotch 
general  loudly  applauded,  swearing  "  he  had  not  read  so 
good  a  conundrum  in  the  newspapers  for  a  year." 

The  genial  and  witty  Bishop  Wilmer,  of  Alabama, 
was  a  warm  friend  and  admirer  of  Harry,  and  greatly 
enjoyed  his  conundrum;  and  when,  after  the  war,  he 
went  to  New  York  to  invoke  assistance  for  the  churches 
so  desolated  in  our  Southern  country,  he  was  induced 
to  relate  this  incident.  A  clergyman  present,  who  was 
not  pervaded  by  that  Christian  spirit  which  all  bishops 
and  the  clergy  especially  should  illustrate,  said  with 


202  RECOLLECTIONS 

much  heat,  "Well,  sir,  if  that  is  your  feeling,  why  do 
you  come  to  us  now  for  aid?  "  "Oh,"  said  the  bishop, 
"to  get  a  hair  of  the  dog!  " 

The  bishop  himself  sometimes  left  a  lesson  by  a  witty 
repartee,  as  he  did  once  when  the  train  in  which  he  was 
travelling  rolled  down  an  embankment.  As  he  picked 
himself -up  a  rough  fellow  near  him,  who  had  been  annoy 
ing  the  passengers  by  his  coarse  and  profane  talk,  said 
to  this  old  Virginia  gentleman,  "Well,  Bishop,  we  all 
like  to  went  to  hell  together  that  time!"  "Speak  for 
yourself,  my  friend,"  was  the  ready  response.  "My 
ticket  is  for  the  other  place."  May  God  send  him  long 
life  and  strong  health,  that  he  may  continue  to  teach  all 
other  bishops  how  potent  is  the  influence  of  gentleness 
and  unfailing  good  temper  in  them  above  all  other 
men.  Ever  a  father  to  his  people  in  the  cruel  war  we 
endured  together,  we  respect  and  love  him  and  trust 
him  now. 

While  colonel  of  the  Thirty-second  Alabama,  then 
a  part  of  Johnston's  army,  and  stationed  at  Jackson, 
Colonel  Maury  was  wounded  in  the  right  breast  by  a 
rifle-ball.  He  was  relating  an  anecdote  to  a  group  of 
appreciative  brother-officers  when  this  happened,  and 
coolly  finished  his  story  before  turning  to  one  of  them, 
to  whom  he  said,  "  Please  put  your  ear  to  my  chest  and 
see  if  you  hear  any  noise  in  there."  "No."  "Then, 
boys,  I'm  good  fora  ninety  days'  furlough."  Several 
years  after  the  war,  he  died  from  the  effects  of  that 
very  wound. 

I  was  living  in  New  Orleans  at  the  time  his  death 
occurred,  and  the  circumstances  which  attended  it  and 
my  own  connection  with  it  were  very  curious.  I  may 
state  at  the  outset  that  I  am  not  at  all  a  superstitious 
person,  and  that  I  have  no  theory  to  advance  or  expla- 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  203 


nation  to  offer  with  regard  to  the  following  facts.  Henry 
was  then  residing  in  Mobile,  and  when  I  had  last  heard 
from  him  he  had  been  in  his  accustomed  health  and 
spirits.  One  morning,  in  the  spring  of  1868,  I  awoke 
and  started  up,  saying,  "Where  is  Henry?"  My  wife, 
aroused  by  my  voice,  replied,  "You  are  dreaming!" 
"No,"  I  said  emphatically;  "I  am  not  dreaming.  I 
saw  Henry  standing  by  my  side,  and  he  was  about  to 
speak  to  me,  when  suddenly  he  disappeared."  She 
argued  with  me,  as  was  natural,  that  it  was  all  a  dream; 
but  I  could  not  shake  off  the  conviction  of  its  reality. 
As  I  stepped  into  the  car  to  go  down  to  my  office  after 
breakfast,  a  gentleman  who  was  reading  a  paper  looked 
up  and  greeted  me  cordially,  saying,  "General,  I  am 
glad  to  see  you,  for  I  just  thought  I  had  read  of  your 
sudden  death,"  —  handing  me  the  paper  in  which  was  a 
telegram  stating  that  "  General  H.  Maury  had  died  in 
Mobile  early  that  morning."  Henry  had  been  pro 
moted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  just  at  the  close 
of  the  war.  Our  personal  relations  were  very  warm  and 
affectionate,  and  I  was  his  nearest  of  kin  in  that  part 
of  the  world. 


CHAPTER  XVII 


Recollections  of  General  Forrest — His  Personal  Appearance  and  Traits 
—  His  Characteristics  as  a  Commander — Never  surprised  or  at 
tacked —  Ignorant  of  Tactics,  but  Great  in  Strategy  —  Instances  of 
his  Aggressive  Self-Reliance,  his  Rapidity  of  Movement,  and  his 
Personal  Power  over  his  Men  —  The  Fort  Pillow  Episode 

URING  my  command  of  the  Department  of 
the  Gulf,  I  was  constantly  occupied  in 
strengthening  the  defences  of  Mobile  and  in 
driving  out  raids  which  were  made  into  Mis 
sissippi  and  Alabama  by  Generals  Grierson,  Straight, 
Rousseau,  Davidson,  and  Sherman.  In  each  effort  of 
mine  to  intercept  the  progress  or  thwart  the  intentions 
of  these  expeditions,  I  was  ably  seconded  by  General 
Nathan  Bedford  Forrest.  Indeed,  I  relied  so  implicitly 
upon  his  skill  and  judgment  that  I  never  hampered  him 
with  especial  instructions.  His  natural  qualifications 
as  a  soldier  were  phenomenal,  and  our  association  to 
gether  was  such  that  I  am  able  to  bear  personal  testimony 
to  his  great  ability  as  a  military  leader,  which  deserves 
full  recognition  and  appreciation  at  the  hands  of  his 
people. 

Forrest  was  born  in  1821,  in  one  of  the  counties  of 
Tennessee,  upon  its  southern  border.  He  was  the  eldest 
of  twelve  children,  and  when  his  father  died  he  was 
sixteen  years  old,  and  at  once  assumed  the  care  of  his 
family.  He  had  had  but  little  opportunity  for  learning, 
because  even  elementary  schools  were  rarely  found  in 

204 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF    A    VIRGINIAN  205 

that  wild  country,  and  he  scarcely  read  before  he  was  a 
grown  man.  And  even  during  the  war,  when  he  had 
become  the  greatest  soldier  of  his  time,  he  dictated  all 
of  his  correspondence.  It  lacked  nothing  in  force 
and  clearness,  however  deficient  he  was  in  his  syntax, 
and  etymology.  His  early  life  was  a  period  of 
privation  and  a  hard  struggle  to  maintain  his  mother 
and  his  younger  brothers.  He  went  early  into  active 
life,  and  from  the  very  outset  evinced  those  extraordi 
nary  capacities  for  business  and  that  wonderful  self- 
assertion  which  were  the  marked  characteristics  of  his 
career.  He  became  a  horse-trader  and  a  negro-trader, 
and  made  a  large  fortune  in  these  avocations,  while 
maintaining  a  character  for  strict  probity  and  for  kind 
and  fair  dealing  rarely  ever  found  in  such  callings. 

When  the  war  broke  out,  Forrest  was  in  the  prime  of 
his  mental  and  physical  powers.  Over  six  feet  in 
stature,  of  powerful  frame,  and  of  great  activity  and 
daring,  with  a  personal  prowess  proved  in  many  fierce 
encounters,  he  was  a  king  among  the  bravest  men  of 
his  time  and  country.  He  was  among  the  first  to 
volunteer  when  war  broke  out,  and  it  was  a  matter  of 
course  that  he  should  be  the  commander  of  the  troopers 
who  flocked  to  his  standard.  From  the  very  outset 
he  evinced  his  extraordinary  capacity  for  war,  and 
in  his  long  career  of  great  achievements  no  defeat  or 
failure  was  ever  charged  to  him. 

When  I  first  met  him,  the  army  of  the  West  had 
been  moved  out  of  the  lines  about  Corinth  to  offer 
battle  to  Halleck's  forces,  which  was  declined  by  that 
general.  Forrest,  already  famous,  had  gone  alone  into 
one  of  the  abandoned  redoubts,  whose  only  garrison  was 
the  chaplain  of  a  regiment  whom,  with  his  horse,  he 
brought  out  with  him.  I  observed  him  with  great 


206  RECOLLECTIONS 


interest,  and  felt  the  influence  of  his  wonderful  self- 
reliance.  He  could  never  brook  the  dictation  of  any 
commander,  and  he  conceived  and  executed  his  own 
plans,  moving  when  and  where  he  saw  work  was  to  be 
done,  and  reporting  only  the  successful  result,  which  was 
always  surprising  to  his  enemy  and  to  his  commander. 
In  all  his  long  and  arduous  campaigns  and  scores  of 
battles,  he  never  was  surprised  or  attacked.  His  suc 
cesses  were  achieved  with  forces  much  inferior  to  his 
enemy.  With  unfailing  daring  and  circumspection,  he 
would  make  his  tentative  attack,  or,  as  he  expressed  it, 
"I  will  give  'em  a  dare,  anyhow."  He  was  a  great 
poker-player  and  illustrated  some  of  its  principles  and 
technicalities  upon  the  battle-field.  When  he  found  his 
enemy  too  strong  for  him  at  the  point  of  attack,  he 
would  pull  out  and  find  a  weak  place,  where  he  never 
failed  to  make  in  and  win  his  fight.  When  once  asked 
how  it  was  he  always  succeeded  in  his  battles,  he  replied, 
"  I  don't  know,  but  I  reckon  it's  because  I  always  get 
there  first  with  the  most  men."  Unknowingly,  he  had 
announced  and  illustrated  Napoleon's  great  principle  of 
success  in  battle.  When  he  found  an  enemy  he  could 
not  attack  with  any  hope  of  success,  as  was  once  the 
case  with  a  strong  blockhouse  garrisoned  with  negro 
troops  and  commanded  by  a  stout-hearted  Dutchman, 
who  firmly  declined  to  surrender  and  dared  him  to 
attack,  he  temporized  and  invited  a  parley.  Forrest 
knew  he  could  not  carry  the  place  without  heavy  loss, 
and  that  a  large  reinforcement  was  coming  on  the  rail 
road  to  the  enemy.  In  twenty  minutes  he  convinced 
the  stout-hearted  colonel  that  he  would  certainly  carry 
his  works,  and  that  if  he  had  to  do  so  he  could  not 
restrain  his  men,  who  would  take  no  negro  prisoners, 
and  the  whole  garrison  was  surrendered  without  firing 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  207 


a  shot.  Meantime  he  had  sent  a  detachment  down  the 
road,  derailed  the  train,  and  took  in  the  reinforcements. 
His  insubordination  was  only  excused  by  the  wonder 
ful  success  he  constantly  won  while  having  his  own 
way.  In  April,  1863,  Bragg' s  army  was  up  in  Tennes 
see.  Van  Dorn  commanded  all  of  the  cavalry,  some 
eight  thousand  horse.  Forrest  commanded  a  brigade, 
and  captured  a  Federal  brigade  commanded  by  General 
Coborn.  Bragg  sent  orders  through  Van  Dorn  to  For 
rest,  to  turn  over  all  his  captured  horses,  arms,  etc.,  to 
the  ordnance  and  quartermaster  officers  of  the  army. 
The  property  not  being  forthcoming,  the  general  wrote 
peremptorily  to  Van  Dorn  to  call  on  Forrest  to  obey  the 
order,  and  explain  his  delay  in  doing  so.  Van  Dorn 
sent  for  him  to  come  to  his  office,  and  in  a  tone  of 
authority  demanded  of  him  immediate  compliance, 
saying,  "Why  have  you  not  turned  in  those  captured 
horses?  "  Forrest  replied  defiantly,  "Because  I  haven't 
got  'em."  Van  Dorn  said,  "That  statement  differs 
from  your  written  report,  sir."  Forrest,  white  with 
rage,  said,  "General  Van  Dorn,  the  time  will  come 
when  your  rank  will  not  protect  you,  and  you  shall 
account  to  me  for  this  outrage !  "  Van  Dorn,  with  his 
blue  eyes  blazing,  retorted,  "  General  Forrest,  my  rank 
shall  never  protect  me  from  any  man  who  feels  aggrieved 
by  me,  and  I  await  your  pleasure  now,  sir."  Forrest 
slowly  passed  his  hand  over  his  face;  then  he  said: 
"  General  Van  Dorn,  I  think  there  are  Yankees  enough 
for  you  and  me  to  fight  without  our  fighting  each  other. 
I  am  sorry  for  what  I  said,  and  respectfully  ask  your 
pardon."  Van  Dorn  replied:  "General  Forrest,  I  am 
glad  to  hear  you  speak  so.  No  man  can  ever  doubt 
your  readiness  to  fight  any  man  or  any  thing,  but  while 
under  my  command  you  must  obey  my  orders,  and  I 


208  RECOLLECTIONS 


have  important  orders  for  you  to  execute  at  once."  He 
then  ordered  him  to  pursue  the  raiding  party  of  Colonel 
Straight,  which  had  just  passed  down  into  Alabama. 

This  was  the  last  interview  between  these  two  cele 
brated  men,  alike  in  their  wonderful  courage  and  energy, 
while  very  unlike  in  their  persons.  Forrest,  with  his 
powerful  frame,  high  cheek-bones,  light  gray  eyes,  and 
straight  black  hair,  was  in  physical  powers  superior  to 
all  men.  He  had  probably  slain  more  men  in  battle 
with  his  own  hand  than  any  man  living.  Van  Dorn, 
with  his  light  graceful  figure,  florid  face,  light  waving 
hair,  and  bright  blue  eyes,  seemed  formed  for  love  and 
war.  Not  over  five  feet  six  in  stature,  he  would  have 
encountered  Forrest  or  any  other  man.  I  believe  they 
were  two  of  the  bravest  men  living  who  stood  face  to 
face  that  morning.  They  never  met  again.  When 
Forrest  returned  from  his  splendid  pursuit  and  capture 
of  Straight's  command,  Van  Dorn  had  fallen  a  victim  of 
private  vengeance. 

When  Forrest,  with  about  twelve  hundred  men,  set 
out  in  pursuit  of  Straight,  he  was  more  than  a  day  be 
hind  him.  Straight  had  several  hundred  more  men  in 
the  saddle  than  Forrest,  and,  being  far  in  advance, 
could  replace  a  broken-down  horse  by  a  fresh  one  from 
the  farms  through  which  his  route  lay,  while  Forrest, 
when  he  lost  a  horse,  lost  a  soldier  too;  for  no  good 
horses  were  left  for  him.  After  a  hot  pursuit  of  five 
days  and  nights,  during  which  he  had  lost  two-thirds  of 
his  forces  from  broken-down  horses,  he  overhauled  his 
enemy  and  brought  him  to  a  parley.  This  conference 
took  place  in  sight  of  a  cut-off  in  the  mountain  road, 
Captain  Morton  and  his  horse  artillery,  which  had  been 
so  long  with  Forrest,  passing  in  sight  along  the  road 
till  they  came  to  the  cut-off,  into  which  they  would  turn, 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  209 


re-entering  the  road  out  of  view,  so  that  it  seemed  that 
a  continuous  stream  of  artillery  was  passing  by.  For 
rest  had  so  arranged  that  he  stood  with  his  back  to  the 
guns,  while  Straight  was  facing  them. 

Forrest,  in  his  characteristic  way,  described  the  scene 
to  me.  He  said :  "  I  seen  him  all  the  time  we  was  talk 
ing  looking  over  my  shoulder  and  counting  the  guns. 
Presently  he  said,  'Name  of  God!  How  many  guns 
have  you  got?  There's  fifteen  I've  counted  already!' 
Turning  my  head  that  way,  I  said,  'I  reckon  that's  all 
that  has  kept  up.'  Then  he  said,  'I  won't  surrender 
till  you  tell  me  how  many  men  you've  got.'  I  said, 
'I've  got  enough  to  whip  you  out  of  your  boots.'  To 
which  he  said,  'I  won't  surrender.'  I  turned  to  my 
bugler  and  said,  'Sound  to  mount!'  Then  he  cried 
out,  'I'll  surrender!'  I  told  him,  'Stack  your  arms 
right  along  there,  Colonel,  and  march  your  men  away 
down  into  that  hollow. ' 

"When  this  was  done,"  continued  Forrest,  "  I  ordered 
my  men  to  come  forward  and  take  possession  of  the 
arms.  When  Straight  saw  they  were  barely  four  hun 
dred,  he  did  rare !  demanded  to  have  his  arms  back  and 
that  we  should  fight  it  out.  I  just  laughed  at  him  and 
patted  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  said,  'Ah,  Colonel,  all 
is  fair  in  love  and  war,  you  know. '  " 

Forrest  learned  after  the  surrender  that  Straight  had 
sent  off  a  detachment  to  destroy  our  stores  and  works  in 
Rome,  Georgia,  not  very  distant  from  where  they  were, 
and  immediately  caused  Straight  to  send  a  staff-officer  to 
recall  that  detachment,  Forrest  sending  one  of  his  staff 
along  with  him.  The  recall  was  in  good  time,  and  Rome 
was  saved. 

Hard  riding  had  reduced  Forrest's  force  to  four  hun 
dred  mounted  men.  Straight  had  lost  a  number  in  the 


210  RECOLLECTIONS 


collisions  which  had  occurred  during  the  pursuit.  I 
believe  thirteen  hundred  was  the  number  of  prisoners 
which  I  forwarded  with  their  gallant  colonel  to  Rich 
mond.  He  was  a  very  daring  and  able  soldier,  and 
soon  made  his  way  out  of  prison  and  escaped  with  a 
large  part  of  his  command. 

When  Forrest,  in  fierce  pursuit  of  Straight,  had  come 
near  to  the  bridge  over  the  Estananla,  a  little  girl  of 
fourteen  or  fifteen  summers  appeared  in  the  road  before 
him  and  signed  to  him  to  halt.  She  said,  "The  Yan 
kees  have  halted  at  the  bridge,  and  will  fire  upon  you 
if  you  go  within  sight." 

"Is  there  not  a  ford  above  here,"  asked  Forrest, 
"where  we  can  cross?" 

"  Oh,  yes !  A  little  more  than  a  mile  above  is  a  good 
ford." 

"Well,  can't  you  guide  me  to  it?  " 

"Yes,  indeed,"  she  said.  "Take  me  up  behind  you. 
I  know  the  way  very  well,  and  will  show  it  to  you." 

So  she  got  upon  a  stump,  and  sprang  up  behind  him, 
and  pointed  out  the  route  he  must  take.  And  so  they 
pushed  on  together,  that  fierce  warrior,  gentle  always 
with  women,  and  the  bright  little  girl,  excited  and 
glowing  with  pride  in  her  noble  action  and  in  being 
of  such  important  service  to  the  most  famous  of  all  of 
the  brave  men  of  that  stirring  time. 

After  going  nearly  a  mile  she  said,  "Now  you  had 
better  stop  here.  For  after  you  pass  that  timber,  they 
can  see  you  from  the  ford;  for  by  this  time  they  may 
have  sent  some  soldiers  up  there,  and  they  will  shoot  at 
you  if  you  pass  that  point." 

So  Forrest  dismounted,  and,  accompanied  by  several 
of  the  officers  at  the  head  of  the  column,  advanced  to 
the  timber,  and  was  peering  around  it,  when  the  enemy 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  211 


at  the  ford  opened  fire  upon  them.  He  was  amazed 
and  alarmed  when  the  little  girl  darted  past  him,  and, 
spreading  out  her  little  frock,  cried,  "  Get  behind  me  / 
Get  behind  me  !  "  He  snatched  her  up,  drew  her  back 
to  a  place  of  safety,  tenderly  and  laughingly  too,  mounted 
and  charged  the  enemy,  clearing  the  way  for  his  column 
in  a  few  minutes.  The  little  girl  was  named  Emma 
Sanson.  The  Legislature  of  Alabama  gave  her  six  hun 
dred  and  forty  acres  of  good  land,  and  she  has  now  been 
married  many  years  to  a  worthy  man,  and  is  the  mother, 
we  hope,  of  many  sons  worthy  of  such  a  mother. 

When  retreating,  Forrest  would  often  ride  back  some 
distance  in  the  rear  of  his  command,  in  order  that  he 
might  reconnoitre  the  enemy  for  himself,  and  form  his 
own  estimates  of  his  progress,  etc.  On  one  of  these 
occasions,  while  crossing  upper  Georgia,  he  was  gallop 
ing  in  haste  to  overtake  his  men,  when  an  old  woman 
came  out  of  a  house,  and,  waving  her  sunbonnet  at  him, 
called  out,  "Stop,  you  miserable  coward!  Stop  and 
fight!"  adding,  as  he  hurried  past,  "If  Forrest  was 
here,  he'd  soon  stop  you !  " 

In  1863,  General  Sturgis  moved  out  from  Memphis  to 
occupy  the  prairie  country  of  Mississippi,  that  large 
fertile  region  upon  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad, 
where  the  great  cotton  and  corn  fields  lay  as  yet  un- 
tracked  by  the  hoofs  of  the  invader.  Forrest  fell  upon 
him  on  the  Tishomingo  Creek,  with  less  than  twenty- 
five  hundred  horse.  The  army  of  Sturgis  is  estimated 
at  about  fourteen  thousand  men  of  all  arms,  and  was 
completely  equipped.  His  negro  troops  were  in  front. 
Upon  these  the  Confederates  made  a  deadly  charge, 
which  completely  routed  them.  The  survivors  fell  back 
in  confusion  upon  the  advancing  artillery,  which  was 
thrown  into  disorder,  and  the  whole  command  broke  up 


212  RECOLLECTIONS 


in  utter  panic  and  fled  back  to  Memphis.  Sturgis  lost 
all  of  his  artillery,  three  batteries,  his  wagon  train,  and 
a  great  number  of  killed  and  wounded.  He  reached 
Memphis  without  any  command,  and  ever  after  held 
Forrest  in  profound  respect,  and  when  he  would  hear 
of  an  expedition  going  out  to  capture  him  would 
remind  the  commander  that  he  once  did  that. 

General  Tecumseh  Sherman,  when  in  command  of  the 
District  of  Mississippi,  fitted  out  a  formidable  expedi 
tion  for  the  capture  of  Mobile.  He  moved  out  from 
Vicksburg  with  twenty-two  thousand  infantry  and  artil 
lery.  General  Sooy  Smith  left  Memphis  with  seven 
or  eight  thousand  cavalry,  intending  to  join  Sherman  at 
Enterprise,  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  thence 
the  combined  forces  would  move  to  capture  Mobile. 
General  Smith's  cavalry  was  considered  invincible  by 
all  the  Confederate  forces.  Forrest  had  about  two 
thousand  men  not  far  from  West  Point.  He  fell  upon 
Smith  near  Okolona  in  the  open  prairie,  put  his  com 
mand  to  utter  rout,  and,  like  Sturgis,  General  Smith 
reached  Memphis  without  his  command.  On  this 
memorable  field  Colonel  Forrest,  brother  to  the  gen 
eral,  fell,  bravely  leading  his  men.  When  General 
Forrest  saw  this,  he  sprang  from  his  horse,  caught  his 
dead  brother  in  his  arms,  kissed  him  tenderly,  and  with 
streaming  eyes  led  his  redoubtable  bodyguard  in  a 
charge,  broke  the  enemy,  and  commenced  his  rout. 
Sherman,  on  hearing  of  the  destruction  of  Smith's  col 
umn,  retreated  in  haste  to  Vicksburg,  pursued  by  the 
Confederates,  under  Stephen  D.  Lee,  who  had  recently 
defeated  Sherman  in  the  battle  of  Chickasaw  Bluff. 

Forrest  understood  well  how  to  patch  the  lion's  with 
the  fox's  skin,  and  to  supplement  force  with  stratagem. 
In  the  winter  of  1864,  I  was  commanding  the  depart- 


OF   A    VIRGINIAN  213 


ment  of  Alabama  and  Mississippi.  Forrest,  with  about 
forty-five  hundred  horse,  was  in  north  Mississippi,  and 
I  charged  him  with  the  defence  of  north  Mississippi 
and  west  Tennessee,  and,  knowing  his  peculiar  sensitive 
ness  when  under  control,  I  wrote  to  him  to  this  effect : 
"  In  placing  you  in  the  command  of  this  district,  I  wish 
you  to  feel  sure  I  shall  not  interfere  with  your  exercise 
of  it.  I  will  be  responsible  if  anything  miscarries,  and 
you  shall  have  full  credit  for  all  the  successes  I  am  sure 
you  will  accomplish.  I  cannot  spare  you  a  single  sol 
dier,  but  will  promptly  respond  to  your  demands  for 
supplies  of  every  sort."  This  gave  Forrest  great  satis 
faction.  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  been  so  unham 
pered  by  any  of  his  commanders,  and  he  ever  after 
regarded  me  with  gratitude  for  the  confidence  thus 
reposed  in  him,  and  with  respect  for  my  intelligence  in 
showing  that  I  realized  he  understood  his  business  better 
than  I  did. 

About  this  time  a  heavy  corps  was  sent  out  from 
Memphis  to  occupy  the  State  of  Mississippi,  under  the 
command  of  General  A.  J.  Smith.  The  rains  and  the 
roads  were  very  heavy,  and  Smith's  army  could  move 
but  slowly.  Forrest  kept  a  large  force  close  in  his 
front,  while  he,  with  two  thousand  men,  remained  quietly 
about  West  Point,  getting  his  horses  in  good  order  upon 
the  fine  forage  there. 

Farragut  was  bombarding  Fort  Powell,  with  the  in 
tention,  as  I  anticipated,  of  getting  an  army  and  fleet 
into  Mobile  Bay.  Forrest  telegraphed  me  in  cipher 
to  this  effect:  "The  enemy  has  twenty-seven  thou 
sand  men;  has  more  cavalry  than  my  whole  force;  I 
cannot  check  him,  but  with  your  permission  will  pass 
behind  him  into  Memphis  and  destroy  his  stores,  and 
thus  compel  him  to  retreat."  I  replied :  "  Go,  but  come 


214  RECOLLECTIONS 


back  quick.  You  are  all  I  depend  upon  for  the  safety 
of  north  Mississippi." 

It  was  more  than  a  week  before  he  moved.  He  then 
made  a  rapid  march  across  to  Oxford,  and  with  his 
whole  force  drove  back  the  enemy's  advance,  and  at 
4  P.M.  Friday,  dashed  off  to  Memphis  with  two  thousand 
horse  and  four  guns.  Saturday  I  first  knew  of  his  move 
ments  from  the  telegraph  operator  at  Senatobia  in  about 
these  words:  "General  Forrest  just  passed  here  at  a 
gallop,  bound  for  Memphis."  At  dawn,  Sunday,  came 
this:  "Heavy  cannon-firing  about  Memphis."  He  had 
marched  ninety-four  miles  in  thirty-six  hours.  Three 
rivers  we-re  out  of  their  banks.  He  tore  down  houses 
and  fences  near  by  and  bridged  them  and  crossed  his 
guns  safely  over.  At  crack  of  day,  Sunday,  he  dashed 
into  Memphis,  and  occupied  the  city.  The  command 
ing  general  fled  in  his  night  clothes  from  his  bed,  leav 
ing  his  uniform,  sword,  etc.,  to  the  Confederates.  The 
garrison  of  infantry  threw  themselves  into  the  Irving 
Block,  a  strong  building,  from  which  they  could  not  be 
dislodged  without  loss  of  many  men.  Forrest's  object  was 
fully  accomplished  by  destroying  stores  and  by  spreading 
panic  throughout  the  city,  which  was  soon  communi 
cated  by  telegrams  and  couriers  to  the  whole  depart 
ment  and  army  of  General  A.  J.  Smith,  who,  on  hearing 
that  Forrest  had  occupied  Memphis,  threw  up  his  hands, 
crying,  "We  are  gone  up! "  and  at  once  retreated  out  of 
Mississippi.  Forrest  drew  his  men  out  of  the  place, 
and  by  4  P.M.  was  ready  to  go  back  to  his  own  country. 

In  telling  me  of  this,  he  said  that  a  fine-looking 
staff-officer  came  to  him,  requesting  the  restoration  of 
his  general's  uniform,  with  the  assurance  that  its  return 
would  be  acknowledged  by  a  present  of  a  bolt  of  the 
finest  gray  cloth  to  be  found  in  Memphis.  The  major, 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  215 


whom  Forrest  described  as  a  very  "sassy  fellow,"  said, 
"  General  W.  desired  me  to  say  he  will  catch  you  before 
you  get  back."  "You  may  tell  the  general  from  me," 
rejoined  Forrest,  "that  I  am  going  back  by  the  same 
road  I  came  by,  and  if  we  meet,  I  promise  to  whip  him 
out  of  his  boots."  —  "When  I  told  him  that,"  continued 
Forrest,  "  I  allowed  he  would  not  believe  me,  and  would 
send  all  of  his  forces  to  intercept  me  on  the  other  road; 
but  after  the  major  had  gone  off  with  this  message,  I 
began  to  think  he  might  believe  me  and  attack  me  on 
my  same  homeward  road,  and  I  got  scared,  and  ran  back 
as  fast  as  I  came."  The  Federal  general  did  as  Forrest 
hoped  he  would,  disbelieved  him,  and  made  all  of  his 
arrangements  to  catch  him  where  he  wasn't.  Thus 
again  he  had  saved  the  State  of  Mississippi,  and  this 
time  by  his  finesse  and  energy  alone. 

When  I  wrote  him  my  acknowledgment  of  this  great 
service,  I  told  him  he  should  come  down  to  Mobile  and 
take  a  few  days'  rest,  and  asked  him  to  send  me  one  of 
his  brigades;  for  I  thought  that  the  enemy  on  hearing, 
as  he  surely  would,  that  Forrest  and  his  command  were 
in  Mobile,  would  delay  the  attack  then  under  considera 
tion.  My  wife  wished  to  entertain  him,  and  gave  him 
a  dinner,  inviting  some  lady  friends  who  were  desirous 
of  meeting  this  great  hero.  His  natural  deference  to 
the  sex  gave  them  all  much  pleasure.  He  was  always 
very  courteous  to  women,  and  in  their  presence  was 
very  bright  and  entertaining.  He  had  for  women  that 
manly  courtesy  and  respect  that  marks  the  truly  brave 
man.  Under  all  circumstances  he  was  their  defender 
and  protector  from  every  sort  of  wrong.  His  wife  was 
a  gentle  lady,  to  whom  he  was  careful  in  his  deference. 

The  enjoyment  of  our  dinner  was  enhanced  by  young 
Colonel  Aleck  Chalmers,  one  of  Forrest's  regimental 


216  RECOLLECTIONS 


commanders.  He  was  a  handsome  young  fellow,  as 
gallant  as  he  looked,  and  full  of  humor.  He  described 
for  our  great  amusement  the  descent  of  his  command 
upon  the  Gayoso  House  at  Memphis.  At  dawn  of  the 
morning,  they  rode  right  into  the  great  hall  of  the  office, 
dismounted  there,  and  clattered  up  the  broad  stairway 
to  the  corridors  above,  where  they  found  the  first-class 
boarders,  officers  and  their  families.  He  said:  "We 
went  along  the  hall  knocking  at  the  doors  with  our 
sabres  or  pistol-butts.  The  doors  would  fly  open  and 
the  occupants  of  the  beds  come  forth  accoutred  as 
they  were.  Sometimes  it  would  be  a  man,  sometimes 
a  woman,  sometimes  both,  all  in  appropriate  costume. 
One  beautiful  young  lady  sprang  from  her  bed,  threw  her 
arms  around  my  neck,  and  begged  'For  God's  sake,  sir, 
don't  kill  me  ! '  'Not  for  worlds,  madam, '  said  I,  return 
ing  tenderly  her  embrace."  Which  he  illustrated  with 
the  proper  gestures.  He  was  a  fine  young  fellow,  and 
survived  the  war,  to  die  after  of  the  swamp  fever  of  the 
country. 

General  Frank  Armstrong  was  much  with  Forrest, 
and  was  an  able  cavalry  commander  —  one  of  the  very 
ablest  in  the  Confederate  service.  He  says  Forrest  was 
never  disconcerted  by  any  event  in  battle.  On  one 
occasion  Forrest,  with  Armstrong's  and  Starnes'  bri 
gades,  was  operating  in  Tennessee  against  Gordon 
Granger's  command.  Armstrong  was  in  front,  with 
his  skirmishers  pressing  Granger's  skirmish  line,  when 
two  couriers  came  galloping  from  the  rear,  yelling  at 
the  tops  of  their  voices,  "General  Forrest!  General 
Stanley  has  cut  in  behind  you,  has  attacked  Starnes' 
brigade,  has  captured  the  rear-guard  battery,  and  is 
right  in  Armstrong's  rear!"  Forrest  immediately 
shouted  so  that  all  could  hear  him,  "You  say  he  is  in 


OF  A  VIRGINIAN  217 


Armstrong's  rear,  do  you?  Damn  him!  That's  just 
where  I  have  been  trying  to  get  him  all  day,  and  I'll  be 
in  his  rear  directly.  Face  your  line  of  battle  about ! 
Armstrong,  push  your  skirmishers  forward  —  crowd  'em 
both  ways!  I'm  going  to  Starnes.  You'll  hear  from 
me  in  about  five  minutes !  " 

Off  he  dashed  with  his  bodyguard,  and  in  a  few  min 
utes  loud  cheering  was  heard.  He  recaptured  the  bat 
tery,  recovered  all  of  the  prisoners  lost  by  Starnes,  and 
captured  a  large  number  of  the  enemy,  driving  his  forces 
back.  To  this  day  Armstrong's  men  believe  Forrest  had 
laid  a  trap  for  the  Federals,  into  which  they  fell;  whereas 
Forrest  was  as  near  frightened  as  he  could  be  in  battle, 
and  Armstrong  believed  "they  were  all  gone  up." 

Forrest  knew  nothing  about  tactics  —  could  not  drill 
a  company.  When  first  ordered  to  have  his  brigade 
ready  for  review,  he  was  quite  ignorant,  but  Armstrong 
told  him  what  commands  to  give,  and  what  to  do  with 
himself.  He  had  an  excellent  memory,  —  remembered 
everything  exactly,  —  and  was  so  pleased  with  his  success 
that  he  often  afterwards  had  reviews. 

I  once  asked  him  about  the  charge  so  often  preferred 
against  him  of  the  murder  of  his  prisoners  at  Fort 
Pillow.  He  said  the  negroes  brought  it  all  upon  them 
selves;  that  after  the  white  flag  had  been  raised,  and 
while  it  was  flying,  they  continued  to  shoot  his  men, 
who,  much  infuriated,  shot  the  negroes;  that  he  stopped 
it  as  soon  as  he  could,  but  not  before  many  had  been 
shot.  It  created  a  great  terror  of  him  ever  after  among 
the  negro  troops.  He  knew  this  and,  as  in  the  case  of 
the  Dutch  colonel,  he  used  it  as  a  caution  against  resist 
ance,  and  an  incentive  to  prompt  surrender  when  deal 
ing  with  the  commanders  of  negro  troops. 

Sometimes,  on  the  eve  of  a  battle,  convalescents  and 


218  RECOLLECTIONS   OF   A   VIRGINIAN 

released  prisoners  would  join  him  and  he  would  say,  "  I 
have  no  arms  for  you  yet,  but  fall  in  here  behind,  and 
you  shall  have  plenty  of  good  Yankee  arms  presently." 
He  told  me  he  had  twenty-eight  horses  shot  under  him. 
He  was  shot  only  three  times,  which  is  quite  remarkable 
when  we  remember  how  many  battles  he  fought,  and 
how  continually  he  exposed  himself. 

In  his  last  fight  at  Selma,  he  was  in  the  telegraph 
office  with  General  Dan  Adams,  when  a  little  boy  came 
running  in  and  said,  "The  Yankees  are  coming!" 
They  ran  to  their  horses,  which  were  tied  to  the  fence. 
The  enemy,  led  by  a  big  yellow-haired  Dutchman,  were 
close  upon  them.  Forrest  said:  "Dan  Adams  was  on  a 
smart  horse  and  got  off.  The  big  Dutchman  closed 
upon  me,  and  had  a  smarter  horse  than  mine,  and  he 
kept  cutting  me  over  the  head  and  arms  with  his  sword, 
which  wasn't  sharp,  but  it  made  me  mighty  mad,  and 
I  kept  dodging  it,  for  my  pistol  got  hitched,  and  I  could 
not  get  it  out  till  he  had  hit  me  several  times.  When 
I  did  draw  it,  I  dropped  my  reins,  caught  him  by  his 
long  hair,  and  fired  two  loads  right  into  him ! " 

One  evening  we  were  sitting  together  in  the  veranda 
of  my  headquarters  at  Meridian,  when  his  bodyguard 
came  by  on  their  way  to  water.  I  said,  "  General,  that 
is  a  fine  troop  of  men  and  horses."  "Yes,  it  is;  and 
that  captain  is  the  eighth  captain  who  has  commanded 
it.  The  other  seven  have  all  been"  killed  in  battle ! " 
Such  was  the  influence  of  his  success  and  fame,  that 
there  were  always  daring  applicants  for  vacancies  in 
Forrest's  bodyguard. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

Forrest's  Criticism  of  the  Battle  of  Chickamauga  —  He  retires  to  his 
Plantation  after  the  War,  broken  in  Health,  Fortune,  and  Spirit — 
Pronounced  the  Greatest  Soldier  of  this  Generation  —  Anecdotes  of 
General  Dick  Taylor— His  Ability  as  a  Soldier  and  his  Wit  as  a 
Talker— His  Opinion  of  West  Point 

JENERAL  FORREST  continually  grew  in  ca 
pacity,  and  of  all  his  great  illustrations  of  his 
power  in  war  he  was  never  greater  than 
when  he  covered  the  retreat  of  Hood's  army, 
after  Schofield  had  so  terribly  repulsed  it  at  Franklin, 
and,  with  Thomas,  had  routed  it  at  Nashville  a  few 
days  later,  and  now  hung  upon  its  rear  and  pressed  it 
to  the  very  brink  of  the  Tennessee  River.  Hood,  in  his 
sore  calamity,  gave  charge  of  his  rear  guard  to  Forrest 
and  General  Walthall.  Forrest  had  about  two  thousand 
horse,  and  Walthall,  in  command  of  the  infantry,  was 
allowed  to  select  eight  brigades,  numbering  only  two 
hundred  rifles  each !  Walthall  told  them  of  the  severe 
work  before  them,  and  personally  inspected  each  bri 
gade,  calling  upon  any  man  who  desired  to  fall  out  to 
do  so.  Not  a  man  of  those  sixteen  hundred  Confeder 
ate  veterans  responded.  They  were  all  volunteers  for 
that  desperate  service.  Forrest  was  in  chief  command, 
and  would  have  chosen  Walthall  from  all  that  army  for 
his  second. 

Forrest  will  always  stand  as  the  great  exponent  of  the 
power  of  the  mounted  riflemen  to  fight  with  the  revolver 

219 


220  RECOLLECTIONS 


when  mounted,  and  with  the  rifle  on  foot.  His  troops 
were  not  dragoons  "who  fought  indifferently  on  foot  or 
horseback,"  nor  were  they  cavalry  who  fought  only 
mounted  and  with  sabres.  Few  of  his  command  ever 
bore  sabres,  save  some  of  his  officers,  who  wore  them  as 
a  badge  of  rank.  None  of  Forrest's  men  could  use  the 
sabre.  He  himself  had  no  knowledge  of  its  use,  but 
he  would  encounter  half-a-dozen  expert  salreurs  with 
his  revolver. 

In  the  great  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Forrest's  divi 
sion  fought  upon  the  right  of  Bragg' s  line.  They  were 
all  dismounted,  and  did  not  see  their  horses  for  three 
days.  After  the  retreat  of  Rosecrans,  Forrest  pursued 
up  to  within  cannon-shot  of  Chattanooga.  He  sent 
repeated  messages  to  Bragg,  urging  him  to  press  on  the 
flying  and  disordered  army  of  Rosecrans,  and  occupy 
Chattanooga.  Had  this  been  done,  there  would  have 
been  no  foundation  for  the  claim  that  Chickamauga  was 
a  great  Federal  victory.  It  was  the  hardest  stand-up 
fight  ever  made  by  the  Confederate  and  Federal  armies 
of  the  West.  For  two  days  the  battle  raged.  At  the 
close  of  the  second  day,  the  Federal  army  was  driven 
from  the  field  in  rout.  Thomas  alone  held  his  division 
in  hand;  the  rest  in  confusion  ran  towards  Chattanooga. 
Bragg' s  whole  force  numbered  forty-six  thousand  men. 
When  the  battle  ended,  eighteen  thousand  of  them  lay 
killed  and  wounded.  No  army  of  modern  war  in  the 
Old  World  or  the  New  ever  suffered  such  a  loss  and  won 
the  field.  The  enemy's  losses  were  very  great,  includ 
ing  five  thousand  prisoners.  His  own  reports  show  that 
he  began  and  fought  the  battle  with  forces  superior  to 
Bragg' s.  The  reason  given  by  the  latter  for  not  follow 
ing  up  a  victory  so  signal  was,  in  Forrest's  opinion,  not 
justified  by  the  facts  of  the  condition  of  the  two  armies 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  221 


when  the  battle  ended  by  the  retreat  from  the  field  of 
the  Federal  army.  And  no  one  was  more  competent  to 
judge  of  the  condition  of  the  two  armies  at  that  time 
than  Forrest.  That  it  was  a  great  opportunity  lost  by 
Bragg,  a  great  victory  unimproved,  has  been  generally 
admitted.  That  it  was  a  defeat  of  the  Confederate 
forces  or  a  great  Federal  victory,  history  can  never 
record. 

On  the  1 3th  of  May,  1865,  Forrest's  command  was 
paroled.  His  farewell  address  to  his  men  was  full  of 
common-sense,  and  he  himself  set  an  example  of  entire 
acquiescence  in  the  new  order  of  things.  Many  of  his 
negro  slaves  were  employed  as  teamsters,  etc.,  for  his 
own  command.  The  Federal  authorities  did  not  inter 
fere  with  his  plans,  and  he  took  these,  now  free,  with 
teams  sufficient,  and  moved  at  once  to  his  plantations 
in  Mississippi,  where  he  went  steadily  to  work.  The 
negroes  were  fond  of  him,  and  worked  for  him  as  for 
nobody  else.  Some  time  after  the  war  a  turbulent  negro 
came  to  his  house  threatening  him.  Forrest  killed  him 
before  he  could  execute  his  purpose.  I  heard  of  no 
more  trouble  upon  his  plantation. 

I  was  in  Mobile  when  Admiral  Semmes  was  arrested, 
and  happened  to  return  to  my  home  in  New  Orleans 
upon  the  steamer  with  him.  As  I  stepped  upon  the 
gang-plank,  Semmes,  in  charge  of  an  officer  and  guard- 
of-marines,  had  just  passed  on  board.  He  said  to  me, 
in  a  loud  voice:  "You  see,  General,  they  have  me  in 
arrest.  They  are  going  now  to  disregard  the  paroles  of 
all  of  us."  The  marine  officer  in  charge  was  a  consid 
erate  and  gentlemanly  man,  and  said  to  him:  "Admiral, 
this  is  a  most  unpleasant  duty  for  me  to  have  to  perform. 
I  wish  to  discharge  it  with  as  little  annoyance  to  you  as 
possible,  and  hope  you  will  feel  free  to  converse  and 


222  RECOLLECTIONS 

move  about  the  boat  at  your  pleasure.  You  shall  be 
subject  to  no  unnecessary  surveillance."  So  the  admiral 
and  I  occupied  a  sofa  in  the  saloon,  where  we  sat  con 
versing  till  a  late  hour.  He  wore  his  characteristic 
manner  of  brave  composure,  while  he  felt  the  gravity  of 
his  condition.  His  only  apprehension  seemed  to  be  of 
mob  violence  in  New  York,  when  his  presence  there 
should  be  known.  He  was  taken  next  day  to  the  St. 
Charles  Hotel  in  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  detained 
several  days.  His  friends  were  allowed  free  interviews 
with  him.  General  Dick  Taylor,  Senator  Semmes,  Dun 
can  Kenner,  and  other  eminent  friends  were  in  earnest 
conversation  with  him;  for  the  occasion  seemed  very 
grave,  not  only  for  Semmes,  but  for  all  others  who  had 
been  prominent  on  the  Southern  side  in  the  war  between 
the  States.  He  agreed  with  me  in  believing  that  For 
rest  would  be  the  next  Confederate  arrested.  The 
Federal  organs  already  were  indicating  him  as  the  most 
proper  object  of  Federal  vengeance. 

So  next  day  I  went  to  Memphis  and  sought  Forrest  at 
once,  to  tell  him  about  all  this  and  urge  him  to  leave 
the  country.  He  was  down  at  his  plantation  at  work. 
I  could  not  see  him,  and  sought  Colonel  Sam  Tate,  his 
partner  and  chief  friend  (he  was  president  of  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad),  who  showed  a 
deep  interest  in  my  story,  and  said :  "  Do  you  sit  down 
at  my  desk  and  write  to  Forrest  what  you  have  told  me. 
I  will  prepare  letters  of  credit  for  him.  He  must  not 
delay  his  escape.  By  the  time  your  letter  is  ready,  I'll 
have  a  trusty  messenger  to  bear  it." 

Accordingly  a  fine  young  fellow,  a  captain  of  For 
rest's  corps,  presented  himself  and  took  charge  of  our 
dispatches.  I  left  Memphis  before  I  could  learn  the 
result,  and  did  not  know  of  Forrest's  action  for  some 


OF  A   VIRGINIAN  228 


weeks.  His  reply  to  our  letters  was:  "This  is  my  coun 
try.  I  am  hard  at  work  upon  my  plantation,  and  care 
fully  observing  the  obligations  of  my  parole.  If  the 
Federal  government  does  not  regard  it,  they'll  be  sorry. 
I  shan't  go  away."  Some  weeks  after,  having  occasion 
to  visit  Memphis,  he  called  upon  the  Federal  com 
mander  and  spoke  to  this  effect:  "General,  I  have 
called  to  know  what  you  are  going  to  do  about  my  case. 
I  understand  you  have  arrested  Semmes,  and  are  proba 
bly  going  to  arrest  me."  He  then  repeated  the  reply 
he  had  made  to  Tate  and  me.  The  general  assured 
him  there  was  no  purpose  to  trouble  him.  Tate  and 
other  acquaintances  of  President  Johnson's  had  no  doubt 
procured  from  him  assurances  that  Forrest  would  not  be 
disturbed.  He  continued  for  several  years  to  work 
with  his  accustomed  energy.  Finally,  in  undertaking 
to  make  a  railroad  from  Memphis  to  Selma,  he  failed. 

My  last  interview  with  him  was  in  his  office  in  Mem 
phis.  He  looked  much  aged  and  broken,  and  said  to 
me  sadly:  "General,  I  am  completely  broke  up.  I  am 
broke  in  fortune,  broke  in  health,  and  broke  in  spirit." 
But  when,  a  day  or  two  after,  some  of  the  men  who  had 
"broke"  him  called  to  see  him  and  didn't  talk  to  suit 
him,  he  spun  round  upon  his  revolving  seat  and  gave 
them  a  piece  of  his  mind  worthy  of  his  most  unbroken 
days. 

General  John  T.  Morgan,  the  able  senator  from  Ala 
bama,  was  his  close  friend,  and  undertook  his  claim 
against  the  railroad  company.  Being  in  Nashville, 
Forrest  wrote  him  to  come  and  see  him  at  the  Maxwell 
House,  where  he  was  ill  in  bed.  I  shall  give  Morgan's 
account  of  that  last  and  most  touching  interview  with 
the  greatest  soldier  of  this  generation.  Morgan  had 
put  Forrest's  case  in  such  shape  that  it  was  only  neces- 


224  RECOLLECTIONS 


sary  to  have  his  signature  to  certain  papers  to  insure  the 
payment  of  the  large  sum  involved  in  the  suit.  He 
found  Forrest  in  bed,  ill  and  much  broken.  He  said : 
"  I  am  a  dying  man.  For  more  than  a  year  I  have  been 
a  converted  man.  I  have  joined  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  It  was  the  church  of  my  dear  old  mother. 
She  was  the  best  woman  I  ever  knew.  I  hope  it  has 
made  a  better  man  of  me.  I  have  led  a  life  of  strife 
and  violence.  I  now  want  to  die  at  peace  with  all 
men.  My  son  is  a  fine  young  fellow;  he  will  do  well. 
I  do  not  want  to  hamper  him  at  the  outset  of  his  young 
life  with  litigation.  I  have  sent  for  you  to  tell  you  to 
drop  all  further  proceedings  in  that  case.  I  will  not 
sign  the  papers." 

This  is  the  last  record  we  have  of  this  great  soldier. 
He  was  born  a  soldier,  as  men  are  born  poets,  and  his 
whole  warfare  was  Napoleonic.  It  has  been  sometimes 
said  that  if  he  had  been  educated  as  a  soldier,  he  would 
have  been  the  greatest  general  the  war  produced,  as  he 
fought  more  battles  than  any  commander  of  his  day, 
always  attacked  the  enemy  upon  his  vulnerable  point, 
and  was  never  attacked.  He  always  defeated,  routed, 
or  captured  his  enemy,  and  he  continually  grew  in 
power  to  the  last,  and  was  ever  greater  than  his  oppor 
tunities.  I  do  not  believe  that  four  years'  confinement 
under  military  surveillance  at  West  Point  would  have 
made  him  a  greater  soldier  than  he  was. 

Another  man  whom  I  knew  well  was  General  Dick 
Taylor.  About  1856,  we  travelled  together  with  our 
families.  Taylor  had  become  a  very  successful  sugar 
planter,  had  married  a  lovely  Creole  lady,  Miss  Bringier, 
of  a  distinguished  Louisiana  family.  I  had  married 
Miss  Mason  of  Virginia,  and  we  were  all  travelling 
together  on  the  Mississippi  in  the  fine  steamer  Empress. 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  225 


We  were  about  a  week  upon  the  journey,  and  a  more 
pleasant  one  I  cannot  recall.  He  was  the  life  of  the 
company.  After  this  he  ,took  an  active  part  in  the 
politics  of  the  South.  He  was  never  an  aspirant  for 
office,  but  was  a  power  in  his  personal  character.  In 
the  Charleston  Convention,  Taylor  was  very  able  and 
influential,  and  on  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  went  at 
once  to  the  field  in  command  of  a  Louisiana  regiment. 
His  very  interesting  and  trenchant  book,  "Destruction 
and  Reconstruction,"  published  only  a  few  days  before 
his  death,  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  brilliant 
of  all  the  works  about  the  war,  and  leaves  but  little  to 
be  said  as  to  the  ability  and  wit  of  the  author. 

During  my  association  with  him  during  the  war  and 
after  it,  I  had  many  opportunities  of  enjoying  his  charm 
ing  conversation  and  pungent  wit.  Once  a  very  bright 
and  gay  lady  asked  him  if  he  thought  a  certain  very 
steady  general  was  a  proper  commander  of  an  important 
post  on  the  eve  of  an  attack.  Taylor  replied :  "  He  is 
the  very  best  I  could  entrust  that  command  to.  What 
can  you  urge  against  him?  "  "Oh,  he  is  so  attentive  to 
his  wife,  I  don't  see  how  he  can  conduct  his  official 
business  properly."  "Madam,"  said  Taylor,  "I  can 
well  understand  how  a  man  can  be  attentive  to  his  own 
wife  and  his  business  at  the  same  time,  but  I'll  be  d — d 
if  a  man  can  be  attentive  to  another's  man's  wife  and 
mind  his  own  business."  This  struck  home,  for  she 
was  one  of  the  other  men's  wives,  as  Taylor  well  knew. 

After  the  little  army  of  Mobile  reached  Meridian,  it 
aggregated  about  forty-five  hundred  veteran  infantry 
and  twenty  field-pieces.  I  organized  it  at  once  into 
a  division  of  three  brigades,  and  prepared  to  march 
eastward  and  join  Johnston,  then  in  North  Carolina, 
opposing  Sherman.  But  soon  tidings  came  of  his 


226  RECOLLECTIONS 


capitulation  and  then  of  the  capture  of  Mr.  Davis,  and 
General  Dick  Taylor  proceeded  to  make  the  best  terms 
possible  with  General  Canby.  They  were  very  liberal 
and  kindly  on  Canby 's  part,  who  gave  free  transporta 
tion  over  the  railroads  to  the  Confederates  of  all  of  our 
armies  who  were  making  their  weary  way  back  to  their 
unhappy  people.  A  prominent  official  of  one  of  those 
railroads  received  permission  from  Taylor  to  pass  into 
Mobile  on  the  business  of  his  company.  That  city  was 
then  occupied  by  Canby 's  big  victorious  army,  and, 
feeling  himself  no  longer  in  danger  of  Taylor,  the  rascal 
telegraphed  to  his  agent  at  Meridian  to  "give  no  more 
of  those  passes  to  Confederate  prisoners  of  war."  On 
hearing  this,  Taylor  telegraphed  Canby,  "Please  send 
that  railroad  official  up  here  under  guard  to  me." 
What  was  the  horror  of  the  man  when  a  corporal  and 
file  of  soldiers  took  him  from  his  home  and  bore  him 
up  to  Taylor,  into  whose  presence  he  came  with  well- 
grounded  fear,  for  report  said  the  general  had  shot  men 
for  less  crimes  than  that.  Taylor  administered  in  his 
fluent  style  such  a  tongue-lashing  as  only  he  could  utter, 
and  concluded  by  saying:  "You  have  often  heard  how 
an  honest  man  feels  when  he  falls  among  rogues.  Here 
after  you  will  be  able  to  tell  how  a  rogue  feels  when 
he  falls  among  honest  men;  for  General  Canby  and 
I  will  teach  you  a  lesson  that  will  last  you  the  rest 
of  your  miserable  life !  If  I  were  to  serve  you  right, 
sir,  I  would  turn  you  over  to  those  soldiers  whom  you 
have  attempted  to  wrong,  and  they  would  hang  you  as 
high  as  Haman  upon  one  of  these  tall  pines.  Go,  and 
at  once  countermand  your  orders!  " 

After  the  war  Taylor  went  to  Washington  to  see 
President  Johnson  regarding  his  policy  towards  the 
Southern  people,  and  especially  toward  the  Confederate 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  227 


President,  who  was  his  brother-in-law,  and  to  whom  he 
was  tenderly  attached.  He  gives  in  his  "Destruction 
and  Reconstruction "  a  characteristic  account  of  his 
interviews  with  Thaddeus  Stevens  and  other  extreme 
Republicans  then  prominent  in  Washington. 

About  1875,  Taylor  went  to  England,  where  for  some 
time  he  was  the  guest  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  at  Sand- 
ringham,  and  was  received  with  proper  courtesies  in 
the  circle  of  the  prince's  friends.  He  never  forgot 
that  he  was  the  son  of  a  President  of  the  United  States, 
and  a  general  of  the  Southern  Confederacy,  and  he  was 
so  esteemed.  He  went  with  the  prince  to  the  Fishmon 
gers'  Annual  Banquet.  When  some  of  the  company 
aspersed  Virginia  for  her  failure  to  meet  her  obliga 
tions  under  the  bonds  held  by  the  English,  Taylor,  a 
Virginian  by  descent  and  affection,  in  his  terse  and 
manful  way  defended  her  so  well  that  he  was  invited  to 
meet  the  holders  of  ten  millions  of  Virginia's  bonds  in 
conference.  They  made  a  very  liberal  proposition  in 
view  of  the  revelation  of  Virginia's  poverty,  and  author 
ized  Taylor  to  bear  their  offer  to  the  government  of  the 
State.  This  he  did,  but  it  was  received  with  a  coldness 
that  argued  no  intention  on  the  part  of  the  Legislature 
of  Virginia  to  pay  what  they  had  borrowed  from  the 
British  bankers. 

About  1870,  Commodore  M.  F.  Maury,  feeling  his 
threescore  and  ten  drawing  near,  made  a  tour  of  visits 
to  his  kindred  in  the  South.  He  came  to  see  me  in 
New  Orleans,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  known  that  he  was 
there,  many  attentions  were  shown  him.  There  was 
then  living  in  New  Orleans  a  very  wealthy  and  kindly 
Southern  gentleman,  who  had  conceived  the  hopeless 
idea  of  reconciling  the  opponents  in  the  war  about  his 
dinner-table,  and  whenever  he  gave  a  dinner  he  would 


228  RECOLLECTIONS 

invite  as  many  Confederate  gentlemen  as  Federal.  He 
called  to  see  Commodore  Maury,  and  asked  him  to  meet 
some  friends  at  his  house  at  a  dinner.  At  that  time, 
party  spirit  ran  very  high  in  New  Orleans.  The  vials 
of  wrath  of  the  dominant  Federal  party  were  poured 
upon  the  unhappy  people.  A  man  named  Flanders  had 
been  elected,  by  bayonet  rule  and  a  rascally  ring,  mayor 
of  the  city,  and  a  Judge  Durell  was  the  Jeffreys  of  the 
Federal  courts.  When  we  sat  down  to  the  table,  we 
found  Durell  on  one  side  of  our  host,  next  to  him  Com 
modore  Maury,  then  came  General  John  B.  Gordon, 
and  then  the  writer.  Upon  the  other  side  of  the  table 
were  Mayor  Flanders,  Judge  Wood,  Dick  Taylor,  and 
William  Hunt.  But  for  Taylor,  it  would  have  been  a 
sad  and  solemn  feast;  but  from  the  first  he  amused  the 
company,  otherwise  silent  and  constrained,  by  his  witty 
charring  of  "his  friend,  Mayor  Flanders."  Presently  Flan 
ders  said  to  Commodore  Maury,  "  Commodore,  to  what 
extent,  in  your  opinion,  do  the  developments  of  modern 
science  corroborate  the  revelations  of  Divine  Writ?" 
The  commodore  was  an  experienced  diner-out  and  a 
master  of  the  power  of  language  and  of  thought,  and 
went  on  in  his  peculiar  and  eloquent  way  to  expound 
the  extent  of  the  corroboration,  until  he  felt  that  he 
had  occupied  the  attention  of  the  dinner-table  long 
enough  upon  such  a  subject.  Taylor  saw  it,  and  I 
observed  his  dark  eyes  sparkling,  as  he  broke  in,  "And, 
Commodore,  if  you  will  excuse  me  for  interrupting,  you 
remember  how  Job  cried  out  in  his  agony,  'Oh,  that  I 
had  mine  enemy  by  a  ring '  ?  Well,  none  of  us  ever 
knew  what  Job  meant,  until  the  developments  of  modern 
political  science  have  taught  us  the  power  of  a  ring. 
Everybody  now  understands  that  my  friend  the  mayor 
here  holds  this  great  city  by  a  ring."  This  relieved 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  229 


the  commodore  and  the  company,  and  old  Flanders, 
throwing  back  his  head  and  opening  wide  his  great 
mouth,  laughed  with  the  rest.  As  we  gathered  about 
the  buffet  for  a  chasse  of  brandy,  the  commodore  said, 
"Taylor,  when  did  you  and  the  mayor  become  such 
friends?"  "I  never  saw  him  until  to-night,"  was  the 
reply.  It  was  hard  upon  our  good  old  host,  but  it  may 
have  been  a  lesson  to  him  on  "reconstruction  dinners," 
as  his  were  wont  to  be  called. 

Knowing  my  opinion  of  West  Point,  Taylor,  one 
evening  in  New  Orleans,  delivered  himself  of  his  views 
on  the  education  of  officers  for  the  United  States  Army 
as  follows:  "Take  a  boy  of  sixteen  from  his  mother's 
apron-strings,  shut  him  up  under  constant  surveillance 
for  four  years  at  West  Point,  send  him  out  to  a  two- 
company  post  upon  the  frontier  where  he  does  little  but 
play  seven-up  and  drink  whiskey  at  the  sutler's,  and  by 
the  time  he  is  forty-five  years  old  he  will  furnish  the 
most  complete  illustration  of  suppressed  mental  develop 
ment  of  which  human  nature  is  capable,  and  many  such 
specimens  were  made  generals  on  both  sides  when  the 
war  began." 

He  once  told  me  of  a  kindly  old  English  duchess  who 
was  enthusiastic  in  her  expressions  of  admiration  for 
Mr.  James  M.  Mason.  She  said:  "Mr.  Mason  was  a 
dear  old  man.  I  did  love  Mr.  Mason !  You  may  know 
how  I  loved  him  when  I  tell  you  that  I  even  tolerated 
his  eating  his  tobacco;  and  when  he  was  coming  to 

B Castle,  I  sent  and  got  a  lot  of  spit-pots,  so  that 

he  could  eat  his  tobacco  all  over  the  house." 

Taylor's  last  illness  was  in  the  home  of  General 
Barlow,  his  warm  personal  friend,  who  had  married  one 
of  the  charming  daughters  of  Mr.  Peter  Townsend,  of 
New  York.  He  was  taken  ill  there  soon  after  the  publica- 


230  RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    VIRGINIAN 

tion  of  his  book,  and  was  nursed  by  his  devoted  sister, 
Mrs.  Dandridge,  of  Winchester,  one  of  the  most  intel 
lectual  and  attractive  women  who  ever  presided  over  the 
elegant  hospitality  of  the  President's  house.  In  her 
were  blended  the  best  traits  of  the  gentlewoman  of 
Virginia  and  Louisiana. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

Last  Day  of  Service  for  the  Confederacy  —  Beginning  the  Journey 
Home  —  Hospitalities  on  the  Way  —  Condition  of  the  South  after  the 
War  —  Arrival  at  Richmond  —  General  Lee's  Opinion  of  the  Oath  of 
Allegiance  —  His  Manner  of  administering  a  Rebuke  —  Other  Aspects 
of  his  Character  illustrated — Death  of  Mr.  Mason 

resume  my  narrative,  the  final  day  of  our 
service  for  the  Confederacy  was  one  of  the 
deepest  gloom  to  us.  The  little  army  of  Mo 
bile  had  held  steadfastly  together  with  the 
dignity  of  men  who  had  risked  all  from  a  high  motive, 
and  we  stood  by  each  other  to  the  last.  My  own  deep 
sadness  was  cheered  by  the  sympathy  of  the  noble  men 
who  had  been  my  comrades.  Gibson's  Louisiana  brigade 
had  been  especially  active  and  enduring  in  the  defence  of 
Spanish  Fort;  Ector's  Texans,  the  Alabamians,  and  North 
Carolinians,  and  Massenbury's  Georgians  made  up  that 
steadfast  little  garrison.  They  were  all  around  me  now, 
and  the  Louisiana  band,  the  only  one  left  in  the  army, 
came  to  my  encampment  that  evening  and  gave  me  their 
farewell  serenade.  The  officers  of  the  Louisiana  regi 
ments  which  had  served  with  me  longest  came  to  my  tent 
in  a  body  and  bade  me  an  affectionate  good  by.  The 
Federal  major  who  relieved  my  quartermaster  of  his 
public  property  declined  to  receive  my  headquarters 
ambulance  and  team,  and  graciously  urged  that  I  should 
keep  it  for  myself.  This  I  declined  to  do;  but  when  I 

231 


232  RECOLLECTIONS 

found  that  it  would  be  of  great  value  to  my  destitute 
staff-officers,  I  approved  of  their  accepting  it,  and 
Flowerree,  Dick  Holland,  and  John  Mason  drove  off 
in  it  to  seek  their  fortunes. 

On  the  evening  of  May  i4th,  our  surrender  was  com 
plete.  A  train  loaded  with  paroled  prisoners  of  war 
from  Lee's  army  was  going  up  the  road  that  evening  as 
far  as  West  Point,  and  a  crate  car  was  added  to  it  for 
me  and  my  horse,  all  the  property  I  then  possessed. 
The  conductor  told  me  it  would  not  go  further  that 
night  than  West  Point,  and  that  I  would  find  hospitable 
entertainment  for  the  night  in  the  house  of  a  leading 
gentleman  of  the  town  —  Squire  Collins.  So  just  at 
sunset,  when  our  destination  was  reached,  I  left  Roy 
with  the  orderly  who  had  faithfully  remained  with  me 
thus  far  to  take  care  of  the  horse  and  to  help  me,  and 
set  out  to  seek  some  shelter  for  the  night. 

I  readily  found  the  house,  quite  a  handsome  one,  and 
on  the  veranda  were  several  young  gentlemen  and  a 
very  handsome  young  lady  in  full  conversation  as  I 
approached  the  gate.  I  was  ashamed  to  ask  for  shelter, 
and  had  passed  on,  going  some  eight  or  ten  paces 
further,  when  I  heard  the  gate  latch  rattle  and  a  famil 
iar  voice  call  out,  "General!"  and  I  wheeled  around 
to  meet  a  fine-looking  young  fellow,  Captain  Collins  of 
Armstead's  brigade.  With  hands  extended,  and  hearty 
words  of  comfort  and  welcome,  he  claimed  me  as  their 
guest  for  the  night,  introduced  me  to  his  very  handsome 
sister  (now  Mrs.  Dr.  Curry  of  New  York  City),  and 
made  me  at  home  at  once;  and  never  was  generous 
hospitality  more  welcome.  There  was  a  sumptuous 
supper  with  all  the  belongings  of  a  well-appointed 
table,  an  elegant  bedroom,  and  a  breakfast  appropriate 
to  such  an  establishment,  and,  above  all,  the  sympa- 


OF   A    VIRGINIAN  233 


thetic  care  of  those  charming  people.  It  was  the  one 
green  spot  in  all  of  that  desolate  time. 

With  many  warm  feelings  we  parted  next  morning, 
and  I  got  again  into  my  crate  with  Roy,  and  in  an  hour 
had  reached  Okolona,  where  I  found  one  of  our  servants 
awaiting  to  conduct  me  to  Mr.  Clarke's  residence,  that 
kind  friend  having  already  sent  for  my  family  to  stay 
with  him  until  arrangements  might  be  made  for  our 
future.  As  I  mounted  Roy,  I  raised  my  hat  to  the  Con 
federates  of  Lee's  army  who  filled  the  train,  and  they 
silently  returned  my  farewell,  showing  deep  sympathy 
and  respect  as  I  turned  away.  Our  stay  with  Mr.  Clarke 
lasted  about  two  weeks.  He  was  goodness  itself.  He 
sold  Roy  for  $200  in  greenbacks,  the  first  I  had  ever 
seen.  Roy  was  a  noble  chestnut  sorrel  of  great  power; 
he  had  cost  $700  in  gold,  and  was  a  present  to  me  from 
an  old  friend,  General  Cabell.  Mr.  Clarke  said :  "  Now, 
General  Maury,  I  have  no  money  at  all,  but  there's 
near  a  thousand  bales  of  cotton  in  my  gin-house,  and 
you  just  say  how  many  you  will  accept  to  take  you  home 
and  keep  you  till  you  find  something  to  do;  for  you  ain't 
going  to  be  kept  down  long,  and  I  will  give  you  a  cer 
tificate  to  my  Mobile  correspondent  that  you  have  that 
many  bales  in  my  hands  and  he  will  give  you  the  money 
on  it." 

Of  course  our  objective  point  was  our  home  in 
Virginia.  My  father-in-law's  home  had  escaped  the 
general  ruin  and  desolation,  thanks  to  Burnside's  kind 
heart,  and  all  of  his  children  and  grandchildren  were  soon 
together  there.  My  parole  carried  us  meanwhile  to  New 
Orleans,  where  my  good  friend,  Major  Charles  L.  C. 
Dupuy,  of  my  staff,  met  us,  and  also  my  kinsman,  Mr. 
Rutson  Maury,  at  whose  house  we  were  entertained. 
He  had  received  instructions  from  his  uncle,  Mr.  Rutson 


234  RECOLLECTIONS 


Maury,  of  New  York,  to  supply  us  with  everything  we 
might  require.  Commodore  Maury,  who  was  in  Lon 
don,  had  already  sent  me  a  generous  check,  when  a 
noble-hearted  Southern  woman  came  to  me  and  put  into 
my  hand  ten  gold  eagles,  but  I  would  not  take  her  little 
store,  being  already  amply  provided  for  by  so  many  kind 
friends.  Ten  old  friends  and  comrades  offered  me 
money.  Some  of  these  were  personal  strangers  to  me, 
but  remembered  some  little  kindness  shown  them  in  the 
days  of  my  power.  General  Dick  Taylor  was  one  of 
these,  and  with  him  came  Mr.  Payne,  the  close  friend 
of  Mr.  Davis.  Mr.  Richard  Owen,  of  Mobile,  insisted  that 
my  wife  should  share  a  little  store  of  gold  he  had  saved 
for  an  emergency,  and  the  family  of  Vasser,  of  Aberdeen, 
who  were  much  attached  to  her,  contributed  each  a  bale 
of  cotton  apiece,  nine  bales  in  all,  worth  then  eighty 
cents  a  pound,  and  sent  it  to  their  commission-mer 
chant  to  be  sold  for  us;  but  we  had  already  sailed,  well 
supplied,  and  it  was  not  until  five  or  six  years  after 
wards  that  I  heard  of  this  generous  act. 

Thank  God,  I  can  never  arraign  mankind  for  want  of 
generosity,  and  it  is  with  pride  and  gratitude  that  I 
record  the  hospitality  and  kindness  which  met  me  and 
mine  on  every  hand  throughout  the  war  and  at  its  close. 
It  was  not  my  personality  which  called  it  forth,  but  it 
was  the  spontaneous  outcome  of  the  spirit  which  per 
vaded  the  whole  South  in  all  that  sorrowful  time,  and 
which  distinguishes  it  even  unto  this  day.  Not  even 
the  cruel  vicissitudes  of  that  bitter  conflict  could  chill 
the  sympathetic  hearts  and  close  the  beneficent  hands 
of  our  dear  Southern  people.  Brave  men  and  tender 
women  are  these  who  in  the  past  have  nobly  borne  their 
part,  and  whose  names  will  be  written  with  the  saints, 
for  of  them  it  may  be  truly  said  "  that  they  loved  their 
fellow-men." 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  235 


I  learned  that  the  steamship  Constitution  would  sail 
from  New  Orleans  in  a  few  days,  and  the  quartermaster 
ordered  transportation  for  us  as  far  as  New  York  upon 
her.  There  were  a  number  of  Federal  officers  who  were 
passengers  on  her  as  well,  and  Captain  Mehaffy,  of  the 
First  United  States  Infantry,  was  the  commander  of  the 
guard  and  of  all  on  board.  He  showed  marked  consid 
eration  and  courtesy  to  all  of  us  who  were  his  prisoners; 
insisted  that  I  and  my  family  should  have  first  choice 
of  seats  at  the  table  and  also  of  the  staterooms,  and  when 
he  overheard  a  Federal  chaplain  on  board  talking  un 
pleasantly  about  the  war  to  one  of  my  staff-officers,  he 
cautioned  him  that  if  he  again  transgressed  propriety  in 
that  way  he  would  lock  him  up  in  his  stateroom.  The 
old  captain  of  the  ship  imbibed  Mehaffy 's  generous 
spirit  and,  finding  that  we  were  all  Virginians,  he  took 
the  responsibility  of  changing  the  ship's  destination  to 
Old  Point  Comfort,  and  landed  us  there  instead  of  at 
New  York.  On  parting,  I  formally  thanked  him  and 
Captain  Mehaffy  for  their  considerate  kindness  in  behalf 
of  myself  and  my  officers.  Several  times  afterwards  I 
met  the  latter  gentleman  and  introduced  him  to  friends 
in  New  Orleans,  who  were  desirous  of  showing  him 
courtesies.  Mehaffy  told  me  he  had  lived  in  Norfolk 
before  the  war,  where  his  father  owned  a  large  foundry, 
and  where  he  had  learned  to  like  Virginians. 

On  arriving  at  Richmond,  I  called  to  pay  my  respects 
to  General  Lee,  then  living  in  the  house  in  Franklin 
Street,  in  which  we  afterwards  established  the  Westmore 
land  Club.  Captain  William  Lewis  Maury,  commander 
of  the  Confederate  cruiser  Georgia,  went  with  me.  I 
gave  the  general  a  written  statement  of  my  defence  of 
Mobile,  he  having  written  to  me  with  regard  to  it,  and 
I  felt  it  was  proper  to  make  my  last  report  to  him.  At 


236  RECOLLECTIONS 

the  same  time  I  told  him  that  a  few  days  before  leaving 
New  Orleans,  whither  thousands  of  young  Confederate 
soldiers  had  flocked,  seeking  employment,  a  Federal 
major  on  a  street-car  had  said  to  me:  "I  understand 
that  these  young  men  won't  take  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  United  States.  They  can't  find  employment 
very  easily  until  they  do,  and  may  get  into  trouble.  I 
think  their  generals  should  set  them  an  example  and 
encourage  them  at  once  to  take  the  oath  and  go  to 
work."  He  had  no  idea  that  he  was  talking  to  a 
Confederate,  for  I  had  laid  away  all  evidence  of  my 
recent  rank  and  calling.  When  the  major  left  the  car, 
I  continued  in  it  until  I  reached  General  Beauregard, 
to  whom,  as  also  to  General  Taylor,  I  repeated  the 
remark.  They  both  earnestly  agreed  with  his  view,  and 
told  me  they  would  at  once  set  an  example  to  their  peo 
ple.  When  I  had  finished,  General  Lee  said:  "I  am 
very  glad  you  did  that.  It  is  what  we  must  all  do,  and 
what  I  have  already  done."  I  said,  "I  will  follow  your 
example." 

General  Lee  had  a  quiet  way  of  giving  admonition 
peculiarly  his  own.  It  was  very  effective  sometimes, 
although  he  rarely  censured  any  one.  One  day  he  had 
established  his  headquarters  in  the  large  country  resi 
dence  of  a  gentleman  who  had  placed  it  at  his  service. 
A  distinguished  commander  arrived  with  his  corps  and, 
accompanied  by  his  aide-de-camp,  reported  to  General 
Lee,  who  told  him  to  bring  the  latter  with  him  to  the 
house,  and  to  direct  the  rest  of  the  staff  to  encamp  on 
the  lawn  with  his  own  staff.  Soon  after,  dinner  was 
served,  consisting  of  bacon,  and  greens,  and  corn-bread, 
to  which  was  added  a  slice  of  fine  roast  beef  sent  to  Gen 
eral  Lee  by  a  good  lady  of  the  neighborhood,  on  which 
the  general  hoped  to  mend  his  fare.  The  three  sat 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  237 

down  to  dinner,  and  General  Lee  inquired  of  his  guest, 
" General,  what  may  I  offer  you?  "  "  Some  of  the  bacon 
and  greens,  thank  you."  Then  came  the  aid's  turn. 
"Captain  Smith,  what  will  you  have?"  "Beef,  if  you 
please,  General."  General  Lee  suavely  transferred  the 
slice  of  beef  to  the  young  man,  who  calmly  ate  it  up. 

More  than  a  year  afterward  General  Lee  arrived  at  the 
headquarters  of  the  commander  who  had  been  his  guest 
upon  this  occasion.  When  dinner  was  served,  there 
happened  to  be  a  fine  roast  upon  the  table,  and  the 
aforementioned  young  beef-eater  was  present.  When 
his  host  inquired  of  General  Lee  what  he  would  have, 
the  latter  looked  at  the  unfortunate  aide-de-camp,  and 
smiling  kindly  replied,  "  I  will  thank  you  for  a  piece  of 
that  beef,  if  Captain  Smith  does  not  want  all  of  it." 
He  never  showed  temper  in  his  rebukes,  but  they  were 
all  the  more  effective.  On  this  occasion,  he  was  as  ten 
der  to  the  lad  as  if  admonishing  a  son. 

When  General  Lee  did  express  displeasure,  his  method 
of  administering  a  rebuke  was  usually  salutary.  During 
the  fighting  around  Richmond,  one  of  his  officers,  who 
had  been  placed  in  charge  of  certain  lines,  was  frequently 
conspicuous  by  his  absence.  This  was  especially  notice 
able  whenever  there  was  heavy  firing  about  his  post  of 
duty.  His  staff  were  much  mortified  and  disgusted  by 
the  conduct  of  their  chief,  especially  as  they  were 
aroused  night  after  night  just  after  they  had  fallen  asleep, 
worn  out  with  the  hard  service  of  the  day,  to  receive 
couriers  from  their  superior,  comfortably  housed  in  the 
city,  demanding  reports  of  the  day's  events.  They  had 
no  idea  that  General  Lee  had  observed  all  this,  and 
were  therefore  surprised  and  delighted  when  one 
morning,  as  the  recreant  appeared,  General  Lee  ac 
costed  him  with  intense  sarcasm.  "Good  morning, 


238  RECOLLECTIONS 


General  Blank.  Are  you  not  afraid  to  trust  yourself  so 
far  from  the  city,  and  to  come  where  all  this  firing  and 
danger  is?"  "Oh!  General,  lam  somewhere  upon  the 
lines  every  day."  "Indeed?  I  am  very  glad  to  learn 
it,  sir.  Good  morning,  General  Blank ! "  And  he 
turned  from  him  with  a  scorn  as  withering  as  his  words. 

When  one  of  his  commanders,  from  want  of  prompt 
ness,  permitted  a  corps  to  escape,  General  Lee  was  very 
indignant,  and  said  to  him:  "General,  I  have  some 
times  to  admonish  General  Stuart  or  General  Gordon 
against  being  too  fast.  I  shall  never  have  occasion  to 
find  that  fault  with  you." 

A  warm  friendship  existed  between  General  Lee  and 
a  very  gallant  and  handsome  young  officer,  who  was  mar 
ried  to  a  lovely  Virginia  girl  on  the  very  night  of  the 
conflagration  of  Richmond.  He  did  not  see  his  old 
commander  for  some  years  after  the  war.  When  they 
did  meet,  General  Lee  greeted  him  with  warm  affection, 
and  said,  "How  many  children  have  you?  "  "Just  four. 
—  "Are  they  girls  or  boys?"  "All  girls."  — "Well," 
said  the  general,  "  I  love  and  revere  and  admire  women, 
as  you  know,  but  do  you  go  home  and  tell  your  wife  she 
has  done  enough  for  the  female  line.  I  hope  she  will 
now  go  on  and  have  four  boys  to  fight  for  their  restored 
country  in  the  next  war."  The  gallant  young  colonel 
and  his  dutiful  wife  faithfully  executed  their  general's 
commands,  and  now  four  lovely  daughters  and  four 
sturdy  sons  solace  the  evening  of  their  days. 

Lee  was  very  averse  to  office  work.  Colonel  Walter 
Taylor,  who  was  his  adjutant  throughout  his  great  career, 
found  it  difficult  to  secure  his  attention  to  the  accumu 
lating  reports  of  the  army.  One  day  he  took  the  gen 
eral  a  bundle  of  documents,  reports,  etc.,  for  his  exami 
nation.  After  going  over  a  few  of  them,  Lee,  with  an 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  239 


expression  of  impatience,  tossed  the  rest  aside,  where 
upon  Taylor,  whose  own  patience  was  exhausted,  gathered 
them  up  and  was  about  to  retire,  when  General  Lee  said, 
in  a  gentle,  repentant  tone,  "  Stop,  Colonel !  When  I  lose 
my  temper,  I  do  not  think  you  should  let  that  make  you 
angry,"  and  forthwith  addressed  himself  to  the  task  before 
him,  which  he  completed  thoroughly  and  carefully. 

On  one  occasion  his  opinion  upon  Sherman's  raid 
through  Georgia  was  invited.  "I  have  never  under 
stood,"  he  said,  "why  General  Sherman  has  been  so 
much  commended  for  that  march,  when  the  only  ques 
tion  before  him  to  decide  was  whether  he  could  feed  his 
army  by  consuming  all  the  people  had  to  eat." 

General  Lee  was  very  fond  of  Stuart,  who  was  also  a 
great  favorite  with  the  young  ladies  of  the  valley. 
Shortly  before  the  battle  of  Brandy  Station,  Lee  reviewed 
his  cavalry  corps.  The  young  ladies  of  Culpepper  had 
decorated  Stuart's  horse  with  flowers,  placing  a  wreath 
around  his  charger's  neck.  When  he  had  saluted,  and 
rode  up  to  take  his  place  beside  General  Lee,  the  latter 
remarked:  "Take  care,  General  Stuart!  That  is  the 
way  General  Pope's  horse  was  adorned  when  he  went 
to  the  battle  of  Manassas." 

Lee  rarely  drank  any  liquor.  One  day  General  John 
G.  Walker,  a  very  able  officer,  reported  to  him  with 
regard  to  some  service  he  had  performed.  He  was  very 
tired,  and  could  not  refrain  from  glancing  toward  a  very 
inviting  looking  bottle  which  was  very  suggestive  of 
something  comforting.  The  general  observed  it,  and 
said:  "You  look  fatigued.  Take  a  drink.  It  will  do 
you  good."  Walker  cheerfully  acquiesced,  and  taking 
a  bottle,  poured  out  a  tumbler  of  cold  buttermilk,  the 
general  smilingly  enjoying  his  little  sell  the  while. 

The  remarkable  proclamation  of  amnesty  promulgated 


240  RECOLLECTIONS 


by  President  Johnson  required  us  to  respond  to  fifteen 
separate  disqualifications  for  citizenship  and  trust 
worthiness.  My  application  was  to  the  effect  that  in 
begging  for  pardon  I  confessed  that  I  was  a  graduate  of 
the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  and 
a  captain  in  the  adjutant-general's  department  of  the 
United  States  Army;  and  finally  I  was  to  state  whether 
I  was  the  possessor  of  $20,000!  After  informing  His 
Excellency  of  my  guilt  in  regard  to  the  first  two  clauses, 
I  stated,  in  order  to  thoroughly  clear  my  skirts  of  the 
third,  that  I  was  the  possessor  of  nothing  save  the  ragged 
Confederate  uniform  in  which  I  stood.  I  never  heard 
from  President  Johnson. 

About  this  time  I  received  a  letter  from  Admiral 
Buchanan,  telling  me  he  had  not  yet  asked  pardon  be 
cause  he  could  not  bring  himself  to  express  regret  for 
anything  he  had  done.  I  showed  the  letter  to  General 
Joe  Johnston,  who  said,  in  his  terse  way:  "You  don't 
have  to  express  any  regret.  I  have  asked  pardon  and 
have  expressed  no  regret.  Oh,  yes,  I  did,  too.  I  re 
quested  that  His  Excellency  would  grant  me  a  pardon, 
and  expressed  regret  that  I  could  offer  him  no  reason 
why  he  should." 

After  this  I  set  out  to  follow  my  family,  who  had  pre 
ceded  me  to  Mr.  Mason's  home.  The  railroad  ran 
only  as  far  as  Hamilton's  Crossing,  the  track  having 
been  torn  up  beyond  that  point,  and  not  yet  replaced. 
The  whole  country  had  been  wasted  by  war,  and  the 
condition  of  the  people  was  fearful.  The  poverty- 
stricken  Confederate  soldiers  returning  to  their  ruined 
homes  found  Federal  garrisons  in  every  county  seat, 
sometimes  white  and  sometimes  negroes.  All  of  our 
good  men  were  destitute,  and  there  were  but  few  who 
were  not  cast  down  in  heart  and  spirit. 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  241 


A  stage-coach  awaited  the  passengers  for  Fredericks- 
burg  at  Hamilton's  Crossing,  and  into  it  I  climbed  with 
a  Federal  major  and  his  wife,  on  the  arrival  of  the  train 
from  Richmond.  It  had  been  raining,  and  the  roads 
were  very  heavy.  After  a  while  the  stage-agent  came 
to  the  door,  followed  by  a  respectable  looking  negro 
woman,  and  said,  hesitatingly,  "Can't  this  woman  have 
a  seat  in  there?  It's  a  long  and  very  muddy  walk  to 
town."  "No,  indeed,"  said  Mrs.  Major.  "No  nigger- 
woman  shall  sit  by  me."  "I  will  be  d — d  if  she  shall 
sit  by  me,"  said  the  manly  major.  "Come  and  sit  in 
here  by  me,  old  woman,"  said  I.  "I've  been  riding 
by  such  as  you  for  nearly  forty  years,  and  it  is  too  late 
for  me  to  put  on  airs  now."  And  this  little  difference 
being  amicably  adjusted,  we  proceeded  on  our  way. 

I  went  at  once  to  Mr.  Mason's  home,  where  I  found 
all  the  family  assembled.  Many  of  the  negroes  had 
left,  but  a  number  of  the  field-hands  remained  and  were 
at  work,  making  and  gathering  the  crops  of  wheat  and 
corn.  One  day,  while  Mr.  Mason  was  busy  superintend 
ing  the  working  of  his  wheat  machine,  his  arm  was 
caught  and  drawn  into  the  machinery  and  dreadfully 
crushed.  He  realized  his  own  condition  from  the  first, 
and  said :  "  I  have  been  faithful  to  my  wife  and  faithful 
to  my  friends.  Whether  I  have  been  faithful  to  my 
God,  a  few  hours  must  now  determine."  He  asked  me 
to  read  Gray's  "Elegy"  to  him,  which  I  did.  It  was  a 
trying  task.  All  of  us  children  and  grandchildren 
gathered  about  him  until  his  death,  which  took  place 
thirty-six  hours  after  the  accident.  His  presence  and 
example  were  sorely  missed,  not  only  by  those  of  his 
own  household,  but  also  by  the  large  circle  of  friends 
and  associates  to  whom  he  was  ever  an  exponent  of 
much  that  most  adorns  a  man. 


CHAPTER  XX 

The  Classical  and  Mathematical  Academy  of  Fredericksburg  estab 
lished  —  Accepts  a  Business  Offer  in  New  Orleans  —  Engages  in  the 
Manufacture  of  Resin  and  Turpentine  —  Disastrous  Results  of  this 
Enterprise  —  Preventing  a  Duel — Preservation  of  Southern  War 
Records  —  Organization  of  the  National  Guard  —  Recollections  of 
Senator  M.  C.  Butler 

jT  was  decided  by  my  friends  and  by  me  that, 
as  there  was  no  school  of  standing  in  that 
war-swept  region,  it  was  fitting  I  should 
establish  one.  It  was  known  that  I  was  an 
A.  B.  of  the  University  of  Virginia,  and  a  graduate  of 
West  Point,  where  I  had  also  been  for  four  years  an 
instructor.  Encouraged  by  the  recollection  of  these  past 
achievements  in  the  field  of  knowledge,  I  determined 
to  establish  in  Fredericksburg  a  Classical  and  Mathe 
matical  Academy  of  a  high  grade.  As  soon  as  the 
announcement  was  made,  pupils  came  to  secure  admis 
sion,  not  because  they  knew  anything  about  my  attain 
ments,  but  because  I  was  a  Confederate  general,  and 
they  had  the  utmost  confidence  in  my  qualifications. 

As  the  engagements  multiplied  and  the  time  for  open 
ing  the  academy  approached,  my  own  misgivings  as  to 
these  qualifications  greatly  increased.  In  fact,  I  felt 
that  I  was  working  under  false  pretences,  and  I  deter 
mined  to  practise  my  abilities  as  teacher  and  guide  of 
youth  upon  my  daughter,  modesty  limiting  my  course 
of  instruction  to  the  elements  of  arithmetic.  My 

242 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    VIRGINIAN  243 

efforts  were  distinguished  by  such  signal  failure  and 
lack  of  intelligence  on  my  own  part,  and  by  such  sorrow 
upon  hers,  as  convinced  me  that  I  must  have  a  partner 
in  the  conduct  of  the  Classical  and  Mathematical 
Academy. 

There  was  a  very  clever  teacher,  named  Buckner,  who 
had  managed  the  Fredericksburg  Academy  before  the 
war  with  that  ability  and  success  to  be  expected  of  me. 
I  sought  Mr.  Buckner  and  told  him  that  I  found  it  wiser 
to  have  a  partner  in  this  important  enterprise,  in  case 
I  should  be  sick  or  wounded;  that  I  already  had  forty- 
five  pupils  engaged  at  $50  each  per  scholastic  year;  that 
I  had  heard  of  his  capacity  as  a  teacher,  and  thought  it 
prudent  we  should  work  together;  that  I  was  willing  to 
entrust  to  him  the  older  and  more  advanced  boys,  who 
were  learning  the  Latin  and  Greek  and  higher  mathe 
matics,  while  I  would  undertake  the  instruction  and 
flagellation  of  the  little  a.b.  abs.  Buckner  was  a  gen 
tleman  and  a  scholar,  and  a  fine  Confederate  soldier  as 
well,  and  joined  at  once  as  junior  professor  of  the 
Fredericksburg  Classical  and  Mathematical  Academy. 

One  of  the  deciding  causes  of  this  arrangement  of 
mine  and  Buckner 's  was  the  arrival  at  Cleveland  of  five 
boys  sent  to  me  from  Alabama  to  be  "plebs"  of  my 
school.  My  blood  ran  cold  when  I  saw  them,  but  I 
found  an  elegant  gentlewoman  bereft  of  her  comfortable 
fortune  by  the  war,  who  was  willing  to  receive  them  into 
her  family  on  very  reasonable  terms  and  to  look  after 
them,  which  she  did  for  several  years  very  kindly. 

At  this  crisis  I  received  a  very  lucrative  offer  of  busi 
ness  in  New  Orleans.  So  I  transferred  to  Mr.  Buckner 
my  responsibilities  in  our  mutual  institution  of  learn 
ing,  and  went  to  New  Orleans  to  be  an  express-agent. 
Having  been  the  quartermaster  in  the  United  States 


244  RECOLLECTIONS 


Corps  of  Cadets,  it  was  presumed  I  had  peculiar  fitness 
for  all  matters  appertaining  to  transportation,  etc.,  so 
I  retired  and  Buckner  managed  the  academy  until  his 
death,  and  a  more  faithful  and  accomplished  principal 
it  could  never  have  had.  For,  since  the  days  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Hanson,  no  man  had  won  the  confidence  and 
love  of  pupils  and  parents,  or  deserved  them  more 
than  he. 

I  always  felt  satisfied  as  to  my  connection  with  that 
excellent  institution,  for  I  was  strictly  honest  in  it  all. 
I  knew  I  had  been  in  school  from  the  time  I  was  four 
years  old  until  I  was  twenty-four,  and  ought  to  be  com 
petent  to  teach,  but  when  the  five  boys  arrived  from 
Mobile,  entrusted  by  confiding  friends  to  my  tutelage,  I 
felt  the  gravity  of  the  responsibilities,  and  instituted  a 
rigid  course  of  self-examination.  It  was  true  that  for 
eight  or  nine  years  I  had  nothing  to  do  but  study  Latin 
and  Greek,  but  a  careful  private  investigation  showed 
that  I  had  not  for  many  years  been  able  to  tell  one  Greek 
character  from  another,  and  could  not  translate  a  line 
of  a  Latin  author  without  a  dictionary.  As  for  mathe 
matics,  I  had  forgotten  the  algebraic  signs,  and  after  a 
while  I  began  to  doubt  if  I  could  even  keep  up  with  the 
a.b.  abs. 

I  must  have  been  a  success  as  an  express-agent,  for 
soon  after  entering  upon  this  business,  the  company 
raised  my  wages  to  $200  per  month,  and  I  sent  for  my 
family  to  join  me  in  New  Orleans.  Not  many  months 
elapsed  before  I  ascertained  that  the  company  was 
about  to  sell  out  to  an  older  and  richer  one,  and  I 
was  advised  to  consider  the  business  of  the  manufac 
ture  of  resin  and  turpentine.  Naval  stores  were  ruling 
at  enormous  prices,  many  times  their  ante-war  rate,  and 
the  whole  manufacture  in  America  had  ceased.  I  took 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  245 


counsel  of  as  many  friends  having  knowledge  of  such 
things  as  I  could  reach,  and  they  unanimously  advised 
me  to  go  into  the  business.  Pine  lands  were  cheap,  the 
process  was  simple,  negroes  were  less  averse  to  that  than 
any  other  sort  of  labor.  One  generous-hearted  gentleman 
of  Mobile  said,  "General,  I  don't  think  you  can  fail, 
and  if  you  will  find  a  suitable  place  for  the  business,  I 
will  buy  it  for  you."  This  was  Colonel  Jack  Ingersoll. 

Another,  Captain  John  Gillespie,  was  in  charge  of  an 
enormous  fire  and  marine  insurance  business.  He  had 
never  in  his  life  made  so  much  money,  and  he  went  on 
famously,  making  commissions  of  many  thousands  of 
dollars  per  month  for  some  time.  One  brilliant  stroke 
of  his  electrified  his  New  York  company,  for  he  put  a 
whole  shipload  of  cotton  into  that  company.  The  mana 
gers  posted  to  Mobile  in  intense  anxiety,  but  the  ship 
arrived  safely  in  Liverpool,  and  they  made  a  fine  pre 
mium.  However,  they  begged  Gillespie  in  future  not 
to  monopolize  such  a  risk  for  them.  Gillespie  said: 
"General,  you  can't  fail  in  this  turpentine  business. 
Go  on  with  it,  and  draw  on  me  for  your  expenses. 
You  took  care  of  me  for  four  years;  I'll  take  care  of 
you  as  long  as  I  have  a  dollar."  And  he  did.  He  is 
now  an  eminent  lawyer  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  — 
Judge  John  Gillespie,  as  able  as  he  is  honest,  and  brave, 
and  generous. 

Another  true  and  noble  friend  was  my  adjutant-gen 
eral,  E.  W.  Flowerree.  He  had  attracted  my  attention 
by  his  manly  and  soldierly  bearing  at  Elkhorn.  On 
inquiry,  I  learned  that  he  was  a  Virginian,  and  a  gradu 
ate  of  the  Virginia  Military  Institute.  As  soon  as  I  was 
promoted  to  a  brigadier,  I  selected  him  for  my  Adjutant- 
General,  and  he  stayed  with  me  until  the  end  of  the 
war,  and  was  my  dear  friend  the  last  day  of  his  life. 


246  RECOLLECTIONS 


I  bought  of  Mr.  Ben  Turner,  of  Alabama,  a  place  he 
owned  and  had  profitably  worked  in  Louisiana,  in  St. 
Tammany  Parish.  There  was  a  comfortable  residence 
upon  it,  and  all  of  the  apparatus  necessary  for  the  dis 
tilling  of  turpentine,  and  it  was  surrounded  by  great 
forests  of  the  best  sort  of  pine.  By  close  attention  I 
managed  to  have  70,000  boxes  out  by  the  opening  of 
the  season,  which  there  opens  two  weeks  earlier  and 
closes  two  weeks  later  than  in  regions  further  north. 
Adjacent  to  my  land  lay  a  fine  body  of  timber  upon 
public  land,  which  Mr.  Turner  had  boxed  and  worked 
one  season,  so  that  in  all  I  had  140,000  boxes,  half  of 
which  would  yield  a  fine  white  resin,  then  selling  at 
fabulous  prices. 

The  prices  had  tumbled  before  mine  got  to  market, 
but  I  received  $15  per  barrel  for  a  small  lot,  and  turpen 
tine  also  brought  enormous  values,  selling  at  several 
dollars  a  gallon.  I  saw  a  certain  fortune  before  me,  and 
when  an  overture  was  made  to  me  of  the  presidency  of 
a  railroad,  with  a  salary  of  $10,000,  I  declined  it,  be 
cause  I  could  not  afford  to  accept  it  at  the  cost  of  giv 
ing  up  such  business  prospects.  All  went  well  with  me 
for  a  little  while.  Every  stilling  gave  nearly  one  hun 
dred  gallons  of  spirits  and  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  bar 
rels  of  white  resin,  and  I  was  in  a  fair  way  to  reimburse 
Ingersoll  and  Gillespie  their  advances,  when  the  latter, 
who  had  been  over-generous  to  his  friends,  came  to 
grief,  and  I  had  no  capital  to  pay  my  hands  or  carry  on 
my  work. 

For  the  rest  of  that  year  things  went  very  badly  with 
me;  we  were  far  from  all  human  sympathy,  surrounded 
by  a  very  low  order  of  people.  The  war  had  developed 
the  fact  that  the  worst  class  of  our  population  was  to  be 
found  in  the  vast  region  of  piney  woods  that  sweep 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  247 


along  our  seaboard  from  Carolina  to  the  Sabine.  They 
are  also  in  the  mountains  of  East  Tennessee;  the  same 
so  graphically  described  by  Miss  Murfree,  and  who  have 
until  now  manifested  the  most  vicious  and  cruel  natures 
of  any  North  American.  Jones  County,  Mississippi,  is 
in  this  piney  woods  belt,  between  Meridian  and  the 
lower  Pearl  River.  Toward  the  close  of  the  war,  it  was 
reported  to  me  that  the  people  of  that  county  had 
declared  their  independence  of  the  Southern  Confed 
eracy.  It  was  said  that  a  Confederate  wagon-train  pass 
ing  through  that  section  had  been  captured,  and  the 
officer  in  charge  paroled  as  any  other  prisoner  of  war 
might  have  been.  So  I  forthwith  ordered  the  Fifteenth 
Confederate  Cavalry  to  invade  this  imperium  in  imperio 
and  reduce  these  secessionists  to  order.  Colonel  Maury, 
who  was  in  command  of  the  expedition,  did  his  work 
very  actively,  broke  up  the  cover  of  these  malcontents, 
put  several  families  into  mourning,  and  scattered  the 
military  powers  into  the  neighboring  swamps  and  fast 
nesses,  where  his  horsemen  were  unable  to  follow  up 
the  fugitives.  Colonel  Lowry,  since  governor,  of  the 
Third  Mississippi,  was  sent  to  support  Maury,  and  com 
pleted  the  work  of  the  mounted  men  so  thoroughly  that 
the  malcontents  left  the  county  in  great  numbers,  and 
moved  down  toward  the  Delta  or  Pearl  River. 

It  was  into  this  community,  where  my  name,  as  I 
afterwards  found  too  late,  was  the  red  flag  to  the  bull, 
that  I,  unwitting  of  my  neighbors,  came  to  seek  my 
fortune.  Threats  were  soon  made  against  me,  and  one 
rascal  was  insolent  enough  to  threaten  me  in  my  own 
house.  I  invited  him  out,  escorted  him  through  my 
gate,  and  warned  him  never  again  to  set  foot  upon  my 
property.  On  the  next  Sunday,  about  midday,  I  re 
turned  from  New  Orleans  to  find  my  greatest  body  of  pine 


248  RECOLLECTIONS 


in  a  general  conflagration.  Seventy  thousand  boxes  were 
burned  out,  and  with  difficulty  the  fences  and  buildings 
were  saved.  After  that  I  never  left  my  house  unarmed. 

It  was,  therefore,  with  a  special  relief  that  I  welcomed 
the  arrival  of  my  kinsman,  Jack  Maury,  from  Fort  Dela 
ware.  He  had  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  Federal  government  and,  with  a  few  other  Con 
federate  officers,  was  detained  in  prison  until  the  late 
summer,  when  the  United  States  refused  to  keep  them 
any  longer  and  bade  them,  as  Dogberry  did,  to  "go  in 
God's  name."  About  this  time  my  wife  fell  ill,  and 
we  were  very  desolate,  no  human  being  ever  coming 
near  us;  till  one  day  there  was  a  step  upon  the  veranda, 
a  tap  at  the  door,  and  there  stood  that  grand  old  gen 
tleman,  Dr.  Louis  Minor,  late  fleet  -  surgeon  of  the 
Confederate  Navy,  as  gentle  as  he  was  brave,  the 
Colonel  Newcome  of  our  time.  He  had  heard  in 
New  Orleans  of  my  wife's  condition,  had  boarded  a 
sloop  on  Lake  Pontchartrain,  and  after  a  rough  experi 
ence  of  forty-eight  hours,  reached  us.  He  came  like  a 
minister  of  mercy,  and  was  with  us  many  days,  and  his 
patient  was  convalescent  before  he  returned  to  his  own 
comfortable  home  in  New  Orleans. 

It  became  evident  that  our  whole  enterprise  in  St. 
Tammany  Parish  was  a  failure.  The  sum  of  $10  was 
the  total  balance  in  hand,  and  I  took  $5  and  went  to 
New  Orleans  to  seek  my  fortune.  At  the  Rigolet  I 
boarded  a  sloop  bound  across  the  lake.  Her  captain 
and  crew  of  two  men  were  negroes,  and  the  passenger 
accommodation  appropriate.  My  passage  money  was 
$2.50,  and  on  the  second  day  when  we  landed  I  walked 
into  the  city  with  $2.50  in  my  pocket  and  went  to  the 
office  of  an  old  friend,  General  Simon  Buckner.  He 
told  me  the  office  of  secretary  of  the  Southern  Hospital 


OF  A  VIRGINIAN  249 


Association  had  been  created  the  previous  night  with  a 
salary  of  $125  per  month,  and  said,  "Will  you  accept 
it?"  "Accept  it?  Of  course  I  will.  That's  $125  a 
month  more  than  my  present  income."  In  a  short  time 
it  was  raised  to  $200,  and  I  was  able  to  be  reunited 
with  my  family. 

One  bright  Sunday  morning  in  the  winter  of  1871,  as 

we  were  returning  from  church,  my  friend  Colonel  M 

joined  us,  and  after  chatting  awhile  on  various  topics, 
touched  my  arm  and  turned  away.  I  followed  him,  and 
he  told  me  that  the  night  before,  while  drunk,  he  had 

slapped  the  face  of  his  old  friend,  Captain  L ,  and 

that  he  had  been  awakened  on  Sunday  morning  by  Mr. 
Essling  and  Captain  Adams,  bearing  a  peremptory 
challenge;  that  Colonel  Jack  Wharton  had  agreed  to 
act  as  his  second,  provided  I  would  serve  with  him. 
Remembering  that  the  challenger  had  a  wife  and  chil 
dren,  and  believing  that  I  could  prevent  the  duel,  I 
consented  to  serve.  The  challenge  was  peremptory,  and 
we  accepted  it,  Wharton  and  I  agreeing  to  fix  a  "  long 
day,"  that  time  might  be  gained  for  the  intervention 
of  friends,  and  a  peaceful  solution  reached.  We  fixed 
the  following  Wednesday  as  the  date,  Bay  St.  Louis  as 
the  place,  and  duelling  pistols  as  the  weapons.  We 
then  reported  to  our  principal,  to  whom  Wharton  re 
marked,  "Now  you  will  have  time  to  brush  up  your 
pistol  practice."  Raising  his  head  proudly,  Colonel 

M replied,  "  No,  sir,  I  will  not  touch  a  pistol  until 

I  take  my  place  upon  the  field  next  Wednesday."  I 
said,  "I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  so.  It  is  just  what  I 
expected  of  you." 

In  that  day,  and  especially  in  New  Orleans,  no  man 
could  refuse  to  fight  a  duel  under  such  circumstances 
as  these,  and  preserve  his  self-respect  or  the  confidence 


250  RECOLLECTIONS 

of  the  community.  The  principals  in  this  affair  were 
both  Kentuckians  and  soldiers  of  high  courage.  After 
accepting  the  challenge  we  set  ourselves  to  find  some 
mutual  friend  who  could  act  as  mediator.  By  this  time 
the  whole  rotunda  of  the  St.  Charles  Hotel  was  filled  by 
the  curious  and  anxious  friends  of  the  principals,  who 
had  discovered  that  a  duel  was  in  prospect.  Late  in 
the  evening,  General  Tom  Taylor,  a  friend  of  both 
parties,  came  to  me  —  may  God  bless  him  for  it!  — 
and  said,  "General,  these  men  ought  not  to  fight."  I 
replied,  "  I  know  it,  but  the  challenge  was  peremptory, 
and  no  opportunity  for  apology  was  offered."  He  dis 
appeared,  and,  as  I  expected,  soon  returned,  saying  the 
seconds  on  the  other  side  desired  to  see  us.  As  we 
entered  the  room,  Essling  said,  "General,  I  am  sur 
prised  that  you  seem  so  anxious  for  a  fight. "  I  said: 
"  No  other  alternative  is  left  us  by  the  challenge.  I  am 
exceedingly  anxious  for  a  peaceable  solution  of  the 
matter,  if  possible."  "Well,"  said  Essling,  "if  the 
challenge  were  withdrawn,  do  you  think  we  could  reach 
a  solution?"  "Yes,"  I  said;  "in  that  case  we  might." 
"Well,  General,  we  will  suspend  the  challenge  with  the 
understanding  that  if  we  can't  satisfactorily  adjust  mat 
ters,  they  shall  proceed  as  before  arranged."  I  retired, 
outwardly  grave  and  serious,  but  with  a  heart  lightened  of 
its  deep  anxiety,  into  a  private  room,  where  Wharton  and 
I  wrote  an  ample  apology  for  the  deadly  affront  offered 

Captain  L by  Colonel  M ;  and  since  that  day 

I  have  had  nothing  to  do  with  duels  save  to  prevent 
them,  although  —  to  anticipate  my  narrative  a  little  — 
the  reckless  opponents  of  Mr.  Cleveland  have  censured 
him  for  appointing  me  United  States  Minister  to  Colom 
bia,  because  I  have  "shot  several  men  in  duels." 

On  the  last  occasion  of  this  mendacity,  I  wrote  to 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  251 


Mr.  Cleveland,  telling  him  that  for  myself  I  did  not 
care;  that  my  own  people  knew  my  character  and 
history  so  well  they  had  elected  me  a  member  of  the 
Anti-Duelling  Society  of  South  Carolina.  But,  as  the 
slander  was  published  to  injure  him,  I  would  take  any 
measures  to  expose  and  punish  its  libellous  authors  he 
might  advise.  He  replied  with  characteristic  kindness, 
saying,  "  No  one  believes  what  that  paper  publishes,  and 
unless  it  is  reiterated  I  would  not  notice  it."  An 
eminent  lawyer  informed  me  I  could  successfully  prose 
cute  for  such  slander,  but  I  decided  to  await  further 
developments,  which  never  came.  Thank  heaven,  duel 
ling  among  gentlemen  has  become  almost  unknown. 
The  men  who  fought  in  the  great  war  between  the  States 
have  no  need  of  such  encounters  to  prove  their  courage 
or  protect  their  honor. 

To  return  to  my  story,  whence  the  recollection  of 
this  threatened  duel  led  me  to  wander,  in  New  Orleans, 
in  1868,  I  determined  to  set  on  foot  a  plan  for  the  sys 
tematic  collection  and  preservation  of  the  Southern 
archives  relating  to  the  war.  General  Dick  Taylor 
cordially  encouraged  me,  and  in  May  of  that  year  I 
called  a  meeting  by  quiet  personal  requests  of  nine  or 
ten  gentlemen  in  the  office  of  Hewitt  and  Morton. 
After  conversational  discussion,  it  was  agreed  to  meet 
at  the  same  place  in  one  week  from  that  date.  Mean 
time,  each  of  us  agreed  to  canvass  among  his  friends 
and  bring  them  in  to  help.  Next  week  forty  of  us 
assembled,  and  the  noble  and  able  Presbyterian  divine, 
Dr.  B.  M.  Palmer,  was  elected  president,  and  our  work 
went  on  for  several  years,  though  without  important 
result. 

In  1873,  a  convention  was  called  at  White  Sulphur 
Springs.  It  was  attended  by  many  able  Southern  gentle- 


252  RECOLLECTIONS 


men,  who  evinced  the  most  earnest  interest  in  our  work. 
President  Davis,  Admiral  Semmes,  Governor  Letcher, 
and  General  Beauregard  took  leading  parts.  The  domi 
cile  of  the  society  was  moved  to  Richmond.  Colonel 
Wythe  Mumford  was  appointed  secretary  and  I  chair 
man  of  the  Executive  Committee.  We  occupied  an 
office  in  the  capitol  of  Virginia,  made  acknowledg 
ments  in  the  newspapers  for  documents  received,  and 
arrangements  for  their  publication. 

The  Executive  Committee  included  the  Honorable  R. 
M.  T.  Hunter  and  several  other  gentlemen  of  high  charac 
ter  and  ability,  and  so  soon  as  we  began  to  publish  our 
records,  our  membership  rapidly  increased;  so  that  the 
Secretary  of  War  at  length  sought  to  procure  access  to 
and  the  use  of  our  archives.  We  replied,  "  Open  yours 
to  us,  and  ours  will  be  open  to  you."  This  ended  the 
negotiations.  The  next  Secretary  asked  access  to  our 
papers  with  the  same  result.  Then  Mr.  Hayes  obtained 
the  Presidency,  and  announced  a  conciliatory  policy 
towards  the  South.  He  appointed  General  Marcus 
Wright,  who  had  already  collected  by  his  own  exertions 
many  of  our  war  papers,  to  the  charge  of  that  business, 
and  sent  him  to  me  to  accomplish  a  free  interchange 
of  documents  between  the  War  Records  Office  and  the 
Southern  Historical  Society.  To  this  I  cordially  as 
sented,  and  opened  our  office  with  all  of  its  great  col 
lection  of  papers  to  the  free  access  of  the  office  in 
Washington.  Since  then  the  interchange  has  continued, 
until  now  the  War  Records  Office  can  publish  the 
authentic  facts  of  both  contestants  in  the  struggle. 

Satisfied  and  proud  of  our  prowess,  so  wonderfully 
exhibited  in  the  war,  and  with  all  our  interest  concen 
trated  upon  the  South' s  financial  prosperity,  it  was  no 
wonder  that  for  a  long  time  little  thought  was  given  to 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  258 


the  development  of  the  military  power  of  the  Southern 
States.  The  contest  of  Tilden  and  Hayes  for  the  Presi 
dency  caused  some  of  us  to  apprehend  civil  war.  Dur 
ing  that  political  struggle  and  soon  after  the  great  labor 
riots  in  Baltimore  and  Pittsburgh,  etc.,  I  called  a  meet 
ing  in  Richmond  to  consider  how  we  might  improve 
the  militia  of  the  State.  We  invited  the  co-operation 
of  all  the  States  in  measures  promotive  of  our  military 
efficiency,  and  the  matter  was  promptly  taken  up  in  New 
York  and  followed  by  the  first  convention  and  organiza 
tion  of  the  National  Guard  Association  of  America. 

We  succeeded  in  procuring  from  Congress  a  small 
increase  in  the  annual  appropriation  for  arming  the 
militia,  but,  better  than  that,  we  aroused  in  every  State 
such  interest  in  this  vital  subject  as  has  placed  on  foot 
the  most  efficient  national  militia  in  the  world.  Only 
a  short  time  has  passed  since  the  great  State  of  Pennsyl 
vania  called  out  her  militia,  and  in  twenty-four  hours 
an  army  as  large  as  that  with  which  Scott  conquered 
Mexico  was  thrown  into  a  remote  part  of  the  State, 
where  it  arrested  and  crushed  out  the  most  dangerous 
and  powerful  organization  ever  yet  in  arms  against  the 
government.  In  setting  this  movement  on  foot,  I  had 
the  active  help  and  co-operation  of  Captain  Cham 
berlain,  Colonel  Cutshaw,  Colonel  Purcell,  and  other 
gentlemen  of  Richmond. 

Before  bringing  my  narrative  to  its  end  with  an  ac 
count  of  my  experience  and  adventures  in  Colombia, 
I  wish  to  pay  a  tribute  to  my  old  friend,  Senator  M.  C. 
Butler,  of  South  Carolina.  Senator  Butler  is  a  descend 
ant  of  the  best  families  of  the  Southern  and  the  Northern 
States.  The  famous  Commodores  Perry  of  New  England 
were  his  uncles.  On  his  father's  side  he  was  of  the 
Butler  families  of  Virginia  and  South  Carolina,  That 


254  RECOLLECTIONS 


noble  Senator  Butler,  Andrew  Pickens  Butler,  com 
peer  of  Calhoun,  was  his  uncle.  None  who  ever  enjoyed 
the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance  here  forgot  how 
high  a  privilege  that  was.  Judge  Butler,  R.  M.  T. 
Hunter,  and  James  M.  Mason  were  for  years  the  great 
triumvirate  of  the  United  States  Senate.  They  lived  in 
the  same  house,  ate  at  the  same  table,  and  were  close 
friends,  warmly  attached  and  associated  in  their  per 
sonal  intercourse,  and  staunch  allies  in  debate  and  influ 
ence  in  the  Senate  in  those  days  when  the  true  dignity 
and  influence  of  a  Southern  senator  were  at  their  highest. 

It  was  once  my  delightful  privilege  to  pass  the  Christ 
mas  holidays  with  Judge  Butler  and  a  company  of  bright 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  old  and  young,  in  Hazelwood,  that 
old  Virginian  home  of  the  Taylors  of  Carolina.  Young 
as  I  was,  Judge  Butler  and  I  became  close  friends  at 
once.  We  had  a  dinner  party  every  day,  and  every 
night  had  its  delightful  close  in  a  dance  at  Gaiemont, 
Port  Royal,  or  Hazelwood.  The  house,  big  as  it  was, 
had  no  vacant  beds  or  empty  places  at  the  table,  and 
we  young  people  greatly  enjoyed  the  old  people.  I 
remember  a  dinner  of  twenty  or  more  sets,  when  we 
young  men  and  maidens  listened  with  delight  to  the 
witty  and  wise  conversation  sustained  by  Judge  Butler, 
William  P.  Taylor  of  Hayfield,  and  John  Bernard  of 
Gaiemont.  We  young  folks  ceased  our  merry  chat  and 
listened  with  rapt  attention  to  the  wisdom  and  wit  and 
charming  narratives  and  wise  discussions  of  this  cultured 
trio  of  refined  gentlemen  of  the  old  school.  In  a  long 
experience  I  can  recall  nothing  so  elegant  as  was  that 
Christmas  week. 

Senator  M.  C.  Butler  is  worthy  of  his  high  lineage. 
He  entered  the  Confederate  Army  at  the  outset  of  the 
war  between  the  States  before  he  was  twenty.,  and  con- 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  255 


tinually  grew  in  his  influence  and  his  distinction. 
He  had  every  quality  of  a  great  soldier,  and  far  higher, 
a  nobleness  of  nature  which  has  made  him  till  now  ad 
mired  and  loved  by  all  sorts  of  people,  by  the  highest 
the  most.  He  has  been  a  senator  of  the  old-time 
standard  of  his  gallant  little  State,  and  a  leader  in  all 
that  has  been  important  in  the  councils  of  his  country. 
For  more  than  fifteen  years  he  has  been  in  his  high 
office,  and  well  will  it  be  for  all  our  people  if  he  will 
continue  in  it.  It  was  not  merely  by  his  energy  and 
daring  soldiership  that  Butler  won  the  confidence 
and  admiration  of  all  good  men,  but  he  has  given  an 
example  of  self-sacrifice  which  for  all  time  will  be  held 
up  for  the  emulation  of  future  generations. 

Butler  bore  an  active  part  in  the  famous  cavalry  battle 
of  Brandy  Station,  in  which  he  was  seriously  wounded 
and  maimed  for  life.  In  the  early  morning  of  that 
fierce  fight,  in  which  more  than  twenty  thousand  horse 
men  contested  the  field  from  dawn  till  dark  of  a  long 
day  in  June,  Butler  and  young  Captain  Farley  had  just 
come  out  of  action  and  were  laughing  together  over 
some  amusing  incident  they  had  both  noticed.  Side 
by  side  in  the  road,  they  were  facing  in  opposite  direc 
tions,  when  a  cannon-ball  from  an  unobserved  battery 
came  bounding  at  them.  It  struck  Butler's  leg  above 
the  ankle,  tore  through  his  horse,  and  cut  off  Farley's  leg 
above  the  knee.  Down  they  all  went.  Butler  began  to 
staunch  the  blood  with  his  handkerchief,  and  advised  Far 
ley  how  to  do  the  same.  Captain  John  Chestnutt,  Lieuten 
ant  Rhett,  and  other  officers  came  running  up  to  Butler's 
help,  but  at  that  moment  he  observed  that  Farley's  dying 
horse  was  struggling  and  seemed  likely  to  crush  him. 
So  he  told  the  officers  who  had  come  to  his  help  to  "go 
at  once  to  Farley.  He  needs  you  more  than  I  do." 


256  RECOLLECTIONS 


This  they  did,  placing  Farley  in  a  litter.  He  asked 
them  to  bring  his  leg  by  him  in  it,  and  said :  "  Now, 
gentlemen,  you  have  done  all  for  me  possible.  I  shall 
be  dead  in  an  hour.  God  bless  you  for  your  kindness. 
I  bid  you  all  an  affectionate  farewell.  Go  at  once  to 
Butler."  That  evening  about  five  o'clock  Butler's  leg 
was  dressed  in  the  field  hospital,  just  as  poor  Farley 
breathed  his  last.  Butler  had  never  seen  Captain  Farley 
before  that  morning,  when  Stuart  sent  orders  by  him  to 
Butler.  Henceforth  we  shall  not  need  to  go  to  Sir 
Philip  Sidney  for  an  example  of  noble  self-sacrifice. 

Butler  is  full  of  genial  humor  and  ready  wit,  as  of 
more  sterling  qualities  of  manhood.  On  one  occasion, 
he  was  at  a  reception  in  a  Western  city.  A  coarse,  vul 
gar  doctor  was  introduced  to  him,  whose  graceful  saluta 
tion  was,  "  So  you  are  the  fellow  that  killed  all  of  them 
niggers  in  South  Carolina."  With  an  infinitely  humor 
ous  expression,  in  his  mellowest  tones,  Butler  said, 
"Doctor,  I  have  no  doubt  you  have  killed  more  men 
than  I  have."  The  retort  carried  the  audience,  who 
despised  the  doctor,  and  enjoyed  his  discomfiture  as  he 
slunk  away. 

This  foolish  invention  of  an  Edgefield  massacre,  pub 
lished  by  politicians,  who  used  to  ride  over  us  and  try 
to  keep  us  down,  gave  Butler  another  opportunity  to 
show  his  mettle.  A  leading  senator,  who  had  announced 
that  he  was  an  advocate  of  settling  personal  difficulties 
by  the  "  Code  of  Honor,"  had  pressed  this  charge  against 
Butler  with  especial  virulence,  and  led  in  the  effort  made 
to  exclude  him  from  his  seat  in  the  Senate.  After  all 
the  charges  had  been  thoroughly  disproved,  and  all 
honest  men  were  satisfied  that  Butler  had  successfully 
striven  to  prevent  bloodshed  and  violence  in  that  busi 
ness,  this  senator  failed  to  acknowledge  in  any  way 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  257 


that  he  had  done  injustice,  but  soon  gave  an  occasion 
for  Butler  to  bring  him  down  from  his  perch,  and 
received  at  the  Carolinian's  hands  such  a  castigation 
as  he  had  never  before  been  subjected  to. 

Butler  married  Maria  Pickens,  the  second  daughter 
of  Governor  Francis  W.  Pickens,  the  first  war  governor 
of  South  Carolina.  In  a  recent  letter  Butler  says :  "  No 
sketch  of  my  life  would  be  complete  which  did  not  men 
tion  the  good  woman,  my  wife,  who  has  so  much  to  do 
with  shaping  my  career.  If  I  have  had  any  success  in 
life,  it  is  due  more  to  her  and  my  venerated  mother  than 
all  else." 

Beside  General  Butler's  name  should  be  written  that 
of  another  South  Carolina  soldier,  Colonel  Haskell, 
whose  arm  was  so  terribly  shattered  that  amputation  at 
the  shoulder  was  necessary.  The  surgeon  was  about  to 
administer  chloroform  when  Haskell  said :  "Stop,  Doc 
tor  !  You  have  very  little  chloroform  since  the  enemy 
has  declared  it  contraband  of  war.  Is  it  not  so?" 
"Yes,  Colonel."  "Then  keep  it  for  some  poor  soldier 
who  needs  it.  /can  do  without  it." 


CHAPTER   XXI 

Appointed  Minister  to  the  United  States  of  Colombia—  Panama  and  its 
Scenery  —  An  Event  in  the  History  of  Cartagena  —  The  Journey  up 
the  Magdalena  River  —  Alligator  Shooting — By  Mules  from  Honda 
to  Bogota  —  The  Country  and  its  People  and  Agricultural  Resources — 
The  Cattle  and  Horses 

BOUT  six  years  ago,  I  was  appointed  United 
States  Minister  to  Colombia,  and  enjoyed 
exceptional  advantages  of  observing  this  in 
teresting  people  and  their  wonderful  coun 
try.  My  visits  to  the  Isthmus  impressed  me  with  the 
great  destruction  of  life  and  property  which  attended 
the  construction  of  the  De  Lesseps  canal,  and  caused 
me  to  believe  that  a  work  of  such  magnitude  could  not 
soon  be  accomplished  under  the  management  then  in 
charge  of  it. 

An  exception  to  the  general  inefficiency  of  the  engi 
neering  work  upon  the  Isthmus  was  found  in  the  Grand 
Canal,  excavated  by  the  American  Dredge  Company. 
For  more  than  twenty  miles  that  company  had  made  a 
canal,  one  hundred  yards  wide  at  the  brim,  and  thirty 
feet  deep,  with  the  slopes  of  the  banks  securely  sodded 
with  wire  grass;  so  that,  should  the  scheme  of  an  Isth 
mus  canal  ever  again  be  agitated,  the  American  half  of 
the  work  will  be  found  ready  for  service.  I  believe 
that  our  interests  will  be  better  served  by  the  Nicaraguan 
than  the  Isthmian  route,  which  lies  out  of  the  track  of  our 
commerce  with  the  Pacific  Coast,  as  well  as  of  our  trade 

258 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF    A    VIRGINIAN  259 

with  China.  We  have,  as  yet,  very  little  trade  with  the 
eastern  states  of  South  America,  but  when  our  commer 
cial  relations  shall  have  assumed  their  proper  propor 
tions,  the  Nicaraguan  route  will  serve  our  needs  as  well 
as  that  of  the  Isthmus. 

The  hospitals  upon  the  hills  overlooking  Panama  re 
lieve  the  general  evidences  of  unthrift  and  incapacity. 
All  that  can  comfort  the  sick,  or  cheer  and  enliven 
them,  has  been  there  assembled.  Every  chamber  looks 
out  upon  the  enchanting  scenery.  The  lovely  grounds 
are  beautified  by  flowers,  fruits,  and  shade  trees,  and 
cooled  by  the  breezes  of  the  great  Pacific,  which  breaks 
upon  the  shore  below.  Panama  and  its  lovely  bay  lie 
before  us  there,  and  the  verdant  islands  which  gem  it, 
all  lying  within  common  range  of  the  city  and  of  each 
other,  seem  tempting  prizes  for  any  maritime  power. 

During  the  past  forty  years,  England  and  the  United 
States  have  endeavored  to  purchase  one  or  all  of  them 
from  Colombia.  Mr.  Marcy  offered  $600,000  for  one 
of  them,  but  the  constitution  of  Colombia  forbade  the 
alienation  of  any  of  its  territory,  nor  would  the  sensi 
tiveness  of  that  proud  people  assent  to  it.  The  con 
stitution  adopted  about  six  years  ago  excluded  the 
prohibition  of  sale  of  Colombian  territory,  and  con 
tained  a  clause  permissive  of  the  alienation  of  it.  But 
the  susceptibilities  of  the  people  were  so  great  that  no 
administration  would  venture  even  to  mortgage  or  lease 
one  of  these  little  islands,  which  are  strategetic  points 
essential  to  any  power  seeking  to  control  the  Isthmus. 
The  Congress  soon  repealed  the  permissive  clause  of 
the  constitution,  and  re-enacted  the  clause  prohibiting 
the  alienation  of  Colombian  territory,  and  if  ever  the 
United  States  entertained  the  idea  of  establishing  a 
coaling-station  or  of  erecting  fortifications  there,  the 


260  RECOLLECTIONS 


opportunity  has  passed,  we  fear.  Let  us  hope  that  when 
the  treaty  of  1846  between  New  Granada,  now  Colom 
bia,  shall  be  revived,  proper  provision  will  be  made  for 
the  occupation  by  the  United  States  of  such  points  on 
or  near  the  Isthmus  as  are  essential  to  its  defence,  which 
the  United  States  has  pledged  herself  in  that  treaty  to 
maintain. 

We  made  the  run  from  Colon,  once  Aspinwall,  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Magdalena  River,  on  a  fine  British 
steamer,  in  about  twenty-four  hours.  She  was  com 
manded  by  Captain  Woodvvorth,  a  typical  English 
sailor,  master  of  his  profession,  intelligent,  kindly, 
and  humorous.  He  is  widely  known  in  those  waters,  and 
is  trusted  and  liked  by  all  who  know  him.  Among  his 
crew  was  the  original  of  Dick  Deadeye,  whom  no 
man  who  has  seen  the  opera  of  "Pinafore"  has  ever 
failed  to  recognize. 

A  railway  some  twenty-five  miles  long  took  us  up  to 
Barranquilla,  a  busy  town  of  about  twenty  thousand 
people.  It  is  the  principal  port  of  Colombia.  I  went 
from  Barranquilla  in  another  British  steamer  to  Car 
tagena,  to  pay  my  respects  to  President  Nunez,  who, 
after  his  stormy  political  life  in  Bogota,  retired  to  this 
his  favorite  city.  I  found  him  enjoying  his  dolce  far 
niente  in  his  beautiful  villa,  charmingly  situated  on  the 
beach  of  the  Caribbean  Sea  beyond  the  walls  of  the 
city.  In  stature  and  general  appearance  Nunez  re 
minded  me  of  General  Mahone.  Unlike  Mahone,  he  is 
a  poet,  and  no  soldier.  He  asserts  that  a  strong  govern 
ment  is  essential  to  the  peace  and  consequent  prosperity 
of  Colombia;  that  the  people  are  not  educated  or  in 
telligent  enough  to  govern  themselves;  and  that  there 
fore  he  will  govern  them,  and  meantime  educate  them, 
until  they  shall  be  capable,  as  we  of  the  United  States 


OF   A    VIRGINIAN  261 


are,  of  having  a  free  government.  His  army  is  well 
equipped  and  held  in  strict  discipline,  and  so  distrib 
uted  as  to  quickly  crush  any  attempt  at  revolution. 
When  one  remembers  that  for  a  long  time  civil  wars 
recurring  every  three  or  four  years  have  stopped  the 
progress  and  wasted  the  resources  of  this  rich  country, 
one  cannot  withhold  approval  of  Nunez's  policy,  so  far 
as  it  can  preserve  peace  throughout  the  country. 

About  a  year  after  I  saw  him,  he  came  up  to  Bogota, 
relieved  Vice-President  Payan,  to  whom  he  had  entrusted 
the  duties  of  the  office,  temporarily,  of  the  presidency, 
exiled  thirty-six  of  the  important  leaders  of  the  oppo 
sition,  and  issued  a  decree  restraining  the  liberty  of  the 
press.  He  then  retired  to  his  retreat  in  Cartagena, 
leaving  Payan  again  in  charge  of  the  government. 
Nunez  had  not  long  been  gone  before  Payan  recalled 
the  exiles,  and  repealed  the  laws  restraining  the  freedom 
of  the  press.  Thereupon  Nunez  hastened  from  Car 
tagena,  and  re-enacted  legislation  requiring  a  censor 
ship  of  the  press.  He  did  not  revoke  the  pardon  of  the 
exiles,  but  he  sent  Payan  into  exile  himself,  and  the 
latter  went  away  into  a  distant  province,  where  he  lived 
in  elegant  retirement  for  a  year  or  so,  when  he  was  per 
mitted  to  go  to  his  own  home  in  Cauca. 

The  city  of  Cartagena  is  one  of  the  most  interesting 
in  this  hemisphere.  It  was  the  especial  favorite  of  old 
Spain  in  the  day  of  her  pride  and  power.  Its  great  wealth 
attracted  the  cupidity  of  the  daring  buccaneers  who  for 
so  many  years  roamed  these  seas  in  Elizabeth's  day,  and 
for  a  long  time  after.  Hawkins,  Morgan,  Drake,  and 
others  were  the  leaders  of  the  pirates  of  that  day. 
Hawkins  was  the  pioneer  of  negro  slavery,  which  so 
pleased  his  royal  mistress  that  she  knighted  him  and 
gave  him  a  negro's  head  for  a  crest,  and  until  the  colony 


262  RECOLLECTIONS 

of  Virginia  was  emancipated  from  English  thrall,  great 
numbers  of  negroes  were  seized  in  Africa,  and  sold  in 
Virginia,  and  this  in  disregard  of  the  protests  of  her 
people.  Cartagena  was  the  object  of  the  chief  desire 
of  the  freebooters  of  that  day,  and  was  often  attacked 
by  them.  It  was  also  an  especial  point  of  interest  to 
the  king  of  Spain,  who  spent  $60,000,000  upon  its  forti 
fications,  which  stand  to-day  a  monument  of  the  wealth 
and  engineering  skill  of  the  old  Spaniards. 

In  1741,  during  the  war  between  England  and  Spain, 
a  large  expeditionary  force  was  fitted  out  against  Car 
tagena,  and  entrusted  to  the  command  of  Admiral 
Vernon.  A  year  or  two  before  Vernon,  with  a  fleet  of 
six  English  ships,  had  made  an  unexpected  descent 
upon  Porto  Bello,  capturing  it  and  bearing  away  great 
spoils.  Lawrence  Washington,  eldest  brother  of  our 
great  George  Washington,  was  a  lieutenant  under  Ver 
non,  for  whom  he  had  so  warm  an  admiration  that  he 
named  his  home  in  Virginia  Mt.  Vernon,  after  him. 
This  estate  after  his  death  became  the  property  of  his 
brother  George. 

The  expedition  of  Vernon  against  Cartagena  was 
prepared  with  great  ostentation  and  parade.  One 
hundred  ships  and  fourteen  thousand  men  sailed  and 
debarked  before  the  place.  Vernon' s  long  and  con 
spicuous  preparations  gave  due  notice  of  the  object  of 
his  attack,  and  he  found  the  Spaniards  had  not  been 
idle  or  unprepared.  In  those  days,  no  troops  were  so 
good  as  they,  nor  were  any  officers  so  proud  and  skilful; 
for  they  were  in  constant  wars  and  rarely  met  defeat. 
The  fighting  was  fierce  and  long.  The  defenders  dis 
played  heroic  valor,  and  Vernon's  laurels,  won  at  Porto 
Bello,  withered  beneath  the  walls  of  Cartagena.  Dis 
ease  and  Spanish  valor  destroyed  his  army,  and  after 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  263 


more  than  forty  days'  constant  fighting,  he  re-embarked 
his  shattered  forces,  and  sailed  away,  leaving  many 
trophies  in  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  The  most  curious 
of  these  were  the  medals,  which  Vernon,  in  his  vain 
glory,  had  prepared  in  England,  to  be  presented  to 
those  of  his  officers  who  should  distinguish  themselves 
in  the  capture  of  Cartagena.  Those  medals  are  now 
preserved  in  the  libraries  of  Bogota. 

The  Bay  of  Cartagena  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
in  the  world.  In  its  expanse  it  is  like  the  Bay  of 
Mobile,  but  has  greater  depth,  extending  up  to  the  very 
walls  of  the  city.  The  entrance  by  the  Boca  Chica  is 
very  narrow  and  easily  defended  by  the  strong  forts 
erected  by  the  Spaniards,  which  have  more  than  once 
turned  back  the  tide  of  war.  On  one  of  the  islands  in 
the  bay  is  the  Lazaretto,  where  hundreds  of  lepers  are 
quarantined.  No  Father  Damien  has  ever  yet  found 
his  way  to  them.  They  live  and  die  in  their  dreadful 
isolation,  in  full  view  of  the  shipping  of  the  great  city 
and  the  people  of  the  busy  world  they  can  never  enter 
more.  A  canal  ninety  miles  long,  called  the  Dique, 
connects  Cartagena  with  the  Magdalena  River  at  Cala- 
mar.  Steamboats  run  up  this  canal  into  the  river  and 
thence  up  to  Honda,  at  the  base  of  the  Andes. 

The  Magdalena  is  a  miniature  of  the  Mississippi.  Its 
densely  timbered  banks  are  only  varied  by  the  many 
wood-yards,  occasional  hamlets,  and  small  plantations  of 
bananas,  corn,  sugar,  cocoa,  etc.  On  the  sandbars  we 
saw  many  alligators.  We  counted  one  hundred  and  ten 
on  one  bar,  and  our  only  amusement  during  our  seven 
days'  run  was  shooting  them.  The  sport  would  be 
wanton,  but  that  the  creatures  are  very  prolific  and 
dangerous  to  human  life.  The  only  vulnerable  spot  is 
the  eye  or  the  point  where  the  jaw  joins  the  throat.  A 


264  RECOLLECTIONS 


ball,  even  from  our  Winchesters,  could  not  penetrate  any 
other  part  of  their  armored  bodies.  When  struck  else 
where,  or  when  startled  by  the  passage  of  the  bullet,  the 
alligator  flounders  with  great  to-do  into  the  river,  but 
when  fatally  hit  his  tail  quivers,  and  he  lies  still  until 
some  native  takes  his  skin  and  fat.  We  never  got 
closer  to  them  than  two  hundred  yards,  and  rarely  within 
four  hundred. 

About  twenty- five  steamers  do  the  freighting  of  the 
Magdalena.  They  are  like  the  small  stern-wheel  boats 
that  used  to  ply  the  Ohio  River.  They  draw  two  and  a 
half  feet,  and  as  the  navigation  is  very  dangerous,  they 
tie  up  every  night.  The  trip  from  Barranquilla  to 
Honda  is  usually  made  in  from  seven  to  eight  days 
when  the  river  is  high.  The  down  trip  is  made  in  from 
three  to  five  days.  The  boats  are  reasonably  comfort 
able.  Mosquito  nets  are  sometimes  necessary,  and 
one's  own  mattress,  for  the  staterooms  have  only  cots, 
which  are  bare  and  very  hard.  The  price  of  passage  up 
to  Honda  is  $35.  Going  back,  it  is  less. 

At  Honda  we  took  mules  for  Bogota,  for  which  we  paid 
about  $5  each;  this  includes  the  arriero  or  muleteer. 
These  men  are  entirely  trustworthy.  At  dawn  they  catch 
the  mules,  which  have  been  grazing  all  night,  and  saddle 
and  pack  them  with  great  dexterity,  and  move  off,  on 
foot,  as  soon  as  they  are  ready,  without  waiting  for  the 
traveller,  who  comes  on  at  his  leisure  and  does  not  see 
his  baggage  till  he  has  reached  the  appointed  place  of 
halt  for  the  night.  No  apprehension  need  ever  be  felt 
as  to  the  safety  of  one's  luggage.  The  usual  duration 
of  the  trip  from  Honda  to  Bogota  is  three  days.  A 
railway  from  near  the  crest  of  the  mountain  runs  into 
Bogota,  about  twenty  miles  distant,  and  takes  one  into 
the  city  in  an  hour  and  a  half.  All  along  the  route  up 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  265 


the  mountains,  one  is  enchanted  with  the  grand  scenery. 
They  are  verdant  from  base  to  summit,  and  covered 
with  small  farms  of  bananas,  corn,  barley,  etc.,  all  cul 
tivated  by  the  hoe, —  for  no  plough  can  work  on  their 
steep  sides,  —  and  along  the  whole  road,  which  was  paved 
by  the  Spaniards,  one  is  never  out  of  sight  and  sound  of 
the  pack  trains  passing  up  and  down. 

The  cries  of  the  muleteers  are  not  unmusical,  and 
cheer  their  animals,  while  they  lend  life  to  the  road. 
They  also  keep  all  wild  animals  away,  and  serpents, 
too.  I  never  saw  in  all  of  my  hunts  and  travels  one  of 
those  dangerous  and  tremendous  snakes  of  which  such 
terrible  accounts  are  told.  I  know  that  in  some  regions 
they  are  to  be  found;  for  many  gentlemen  told  me  so, 
and  I  have  seen  enormous  skins  of  constrictors  and 
venomous  serpents,  as  well  as  of  rattlesnakes,  which 
last  are  not  so  large  as  we  have  in  Texas  or  Florida. 

There  are  towns,  and  hamlets,  and  homesteads  all 
along  the  route,  where  meat  and  drink  for  man  and  beast 
are  plentiful  and  cheap.  Hundreds  of  packs,  "car 
goes,"  pass  daily  along  the  road,  a  "cargo"  weighing 
250  'pounds;  and  when  I  was  there  the  government 
derived  a  great  revenue  from  this  freight,  about  $5  per 
cargo.  The  mules  are  not  the  only  pack-animals; 
oxen  are  often  employed,  and  men  and  women  bear 
large  burdens  up  these  mountains.  There  were  many 
sugar-plantations  along  the  way,  and  the  sound  of  the 
grinding  was  pleasant  to  hear.  They  use  horse-power 
to  work  their  mills.  On  the  Rio  Negro,  where  there 
are  many  sugar-mills,  they  have  a  water-power  which 
could  run  all  the  factories  in  Manchester;  and  though 
a  short  ditch  would  do  the  work  better,  for  generations 
these  gentlemen  have  used  mules. 

As  we  ascended  to  4000  or  6000  feet,  we  came  upon 


266  RECOLLECTIONS 


the  coffee-plantations.  I  visited  one  of  over  200,000 
trees,  which  was  in  fine  condition.  It  was  well  equipped 
with  every  appliance  of  the  business,  and  was  in  good 
bearing.  The  raising  of  coffee  is  the  most  lucrative 
business,  and  as  it  is  always  conducted  in  a  healthy 
region,  well  up  the  mountain,  is  very  tempting  to 
foreign  capital.  The  trees  do  not  bear  until  they  are 
four  years  old,  and  during  that  time  the  expenses  are 
heavy,  and  there  is  no  return.  After  that,  for  ten  years 
or  more,  the  crops  recur.  Every  winter  yields  one 
pound  of  coffee  to  each  tree,  and  every  summer  about 
half  as  much.  The  trees  are  planted  some  four  feet 
apart,  or  about  1000  to  the  acre.  The  cost  of  clearing 
and  planting  a  coffee-plantation  is  estimated  at  $100 
per  acre.  Nothing  can  be  more  charming  than  a  fine 
coffee-plantation.  They  are  always  on  the  mountain 
slopes,  in  the  midst  of  a  beautiful  scenery  and  de 
lightful  climate.  The  trees  grow  ten  feet  high,  and 
their  dark,  evergreen  foliage  mantles  the  entire  surface 
of  the  plantation.  The  proprietors  are  the  grand  senors 
of  the  country.  On  one  plantation  of  200,000  trees  in 
full  bearing,  the  residence  of  the  proprietor  was  a  vast, 
two-story  building,  elaborately  and  thoroughly  con 
structed  by  his  own  laborers,  of  timber  and  stone  from 
his  own  estate.  Wide  corridors  ran  all  around  every 
story.  A  handsome  chapel  was  in  the  lower  story. 
The  establishment  was  completely  furnished,  yet  the 
manager  told  me  that  the  proprietor  resided  in  Bogota, 
and  spent  about  three  days  annually  in  this  lovely  home. 
The  grounds  were  beautified  by  fruits  and  flowers  of  the 
temperate  and  tropic  zones,  and  a  crystal  stream  ran 
through  the  place  and  supplied  a  large  swimming-bath. 
Mr.  Wheeler,  the  very  able  charg£  d'affaires  of  Great 
Britain  to  Colombia,  has  passed  many  years  in  travelling 


OF   A   VIRGINIAN  267 


over  that  country,  and  is  probably  better  informed 
about  its  resources  and  conditions  than  any  other  foreign 
resident  of  it.  His  reports  to  his  government  on  the 
agricultural  conditions  of  the  country,  and  upon  its  trade 
and  resources,  are  full  of  reliable  information  on  these 
subjects.  They  present  a  strong  array  of  the  natural 
advantages  of  Colombia,  and  a  correspondingly  strong 
arraignment  of  the  people  who  possess  but  do  not  de 
velop  them.  He  says  the  following  is  a  list  of  the  chief 
agricultural  products  of  Colombia:  Cocoanut  palm, 
cocoa,  date  palm,  cotton,  indigo,  rice,  yucca,  sugar 
cane,  anise,  plantains  and  bananas,  tobacco,  olives, 
maize,  aloes,  caoutchouc,  coffee,  arrocucha,  apples, 
eucalyptus,  wheat,  cinchona,  cochineal,  potatoes,  and 
barley.  All  of  these  can  be  raised  at  little  cost.  Co 
lombia  is  the  home  of  the  potato.  They  are  raised  there 
in  fine  quality  and  in  great  abundance.  Wheat  and 
corn  yield  two  crops  a  year,  yet  the  largest  export  from 
the  United  States  to  Colombia  is  of  wheat  flour. 

Mr.  Wheeler  states  that  the  total  exports  from  Colom 
bia  amounted,  in  1887,  to  over  $14,000,000.  Of  these, 
the  United  States  received  a  little  over  $3,000,000. 
The  imports  the  same  year  were  $8, 719, 297.  England's 
share  of  this  was  $3,611,775,  the  United  States  getting 
only  $9737  worth  of  goods.  The  tobacco  of  Colombia 
is  easily  grown  and  of  excellent  quality.  There  is  a 
cigar  factory  in  Ambulema,  which  employs  500  hands, 
and  makes  excellent  cigars  at  $i  per  hundred.  They 
are  preferred  by  some  to  those  of  Cuba. 

The  country  abounds  in  fine  cattle  and  good,  active 
horses.  On  the  plains  of  Bogota  are  the  largest  cattle 
I  have  ever  seen.  Mr.  Edward  Sayers,  a  gentleman  of 
English  descent,  sent  me  a  fine  cut  of  beef  from  a  cow 
that  netted  800  pounds  of  fat  and  1200  pounds  of  lean. 


268  RECOLLECTIONS   OF   A  VIRGINIAN 

In  butchering  beef,  all  the  flesh  is  cut  from  the  bone,  so 
that  the  viscera,  hide,  head,  and  bones  made  the  gross 
weight  of  this  animal  over  3000  pounds.  He  had  on 
his  estate  a  number  of  cattle  of  equal  size  fattened  on 
blue  grass,  the  seed  of  which  he  procured  from  Ken 
tucky.  The  native  grasses  are  excellent. 

On  a  neighboring  estate,  owned  by  Mr.  Alexander 
Urdanata,  I  saw  twenty-five  Durham  cows  milked  every 
morning.  One  of  them  gave  six  gallons  besides  what 
was  left  for  the  calf.  But  little  enterprise  has  been 
shown  in  improving  the  breed  of  cattle  or  of  any  other 
stock,  and  Mr.  Wheeler's  report  shows  that  from  1849 
to  1878  the  total  number  of  bulls  imported  was  only 
thirty,  and  of  cows  only  twenty;  and  more  of  these  were 
Durhams  than  of  any  other  breed. 

Mr.  Vaughan  has  on  his  place  of  Santuario  the  only 
imported  thoroughbred  horse  I  know  of.  The  native 
horses  are  rarely  over  fifteen  hands  high,  and  but  few 
are  of  that  height.  They  all  pace  from  their  birth,  and 
are  active,  enduring,  and  gentle.  The  method  of  break 
ing  young  horses  is  very  cruel,  but  it  is  effectual.  They 
are  tamed  forever  after.  There  are  a  few  imported 
coach-horses  in  Bogota,  but  they  are  very  clumsy,  heavy- 
footed  beasts. 


CHAPTER   XXII 

The  City  of  Bogota  —  The  Clergy,  the  Military,  and  the  People  — Trade 
Relations  with  the  United  States  —  Social  Life  in  Town  and  Country  — 
Duck  Shooting  —  Mineral  Wealth  of  the  Country  —  An  Exciting  Dog- 
Cart  Drive  down  the  Andes  —  General  Henry  Morgan  —  Return  to 
the  United  States 

HEN  the  Spaniards  came  to  Bogota,  the 
capital  of  the  country  was  a  large  Indian 
village.  It  is  now  a  large  city,  its  popula 
tion  being  estimated  at  over  80,000.  The 
head  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Colombia  resides  there. 
The  President  and  his  cabinet  are  there,  and  once  in 
two  years  Congress  assembles  there. 

There  are  few  cities  I  know  of  that  are  more  elegant 
and  luxurious  than  Bogota.  Wealthy  men  from  all  parts 
of  Colombia  make  it  their  home,  and  England,  France, 
Germany,  Italy,  Spain,  and  the  United  States  have  their 
legations  there.  The  city  is  well  built,  of  adobe  and 
brick,  as  well  as  of  stone.  There  are  many  houses  of 
two  stories,  and  some  few  of  three.  Within,  they 
have  every  modern  improvement,  —  gas,  water,  electric 
bells,  telephones,  etc.  The  streets  are  paved,  and  the 
sidewalks  are  flagged.  When  I  left,  the  electric  light 
was  replacing  gas  and  kerosene.  The  institutions  of 
learning  are  numerous  and  excellent.  The  chief  of 
these  is  a  Catholic  College  of  the  Priesthood.  These 
young  ecclesiastics  occasionally  passed  my  house  in 
columns  of  twos.  I  was  struck  by  their  attention  to 

269 


270  RECOLLECTIONS 


personal  neatness.  They  were  in  exact  uniform,  with 
broad  hats,  long  black  gowns,  and  low  shoes  with  shin 
ing  buckles,  and  manifested  by  their  appearance  their 
belief  in  the  maxim  "Cleanliness  is  next  to  godliness." 

The  clergy  of  Bogota  are  men  of  ability  and  dignity. 
The  good  Archbishop  Paul  died  just  before  I  left  there. 
He  was  a  man  worthy  of  the  love  of  all  his  people.  A 
vast  concourse  followed  him  to  his  grave,  and  as  the 
imposing  procession  moved  along  the  streets,  the  people 
in  their  homes  wept  for  him.  Around  his  grave  the 
voice  of  sect  was  silent,  and  all  men  mourned  the  good 
man  gone  from  them  to  his  eternal  rest. 

The  medical  college  at  Bogoti  is  well  conducted,  and 
the  graduates  are  a  high  class  of  gentlemen.  There  are 
usually  five  battalions  of  troops  in  the  city:  one  of 
artillery  and  four  of  infantry.  They  were  well  equipped 
in  all  respects.  Armed  with  breech-loading  rifles,  uni 
formed  in  blue  coats  and  scarlet  trousers,  with  belts  well 
filled  with  cartridges,  they  were  always  ready  for  action. 
Their  discipline  is  exact.  I  never  saw  one  of  them 
drunk.  Many  of  them  are  young  boys  not  five  feet  high. 
In  one  of  the  fiercest  battles  of  the  late  revolution,  these 
little  fellows  fought  with  great  stubbornness,  4000  of  them 
withstanding  all  day  the  assaults  of  7000  government 
troops;  and  when  at  sunset  a  truce  was  called  and  peace 
was  made,  800  dead  were  buried  on  the  field,  the  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded  aggregating  4000  men.  The  guns 
of  the  artillery  were  light  pieces,  mountain  howitzers, 
gatling,  etc.,  and  were  all  drawn  by  the  men.  The 
generals  were  fine-looking  fellows  of  high  social  stand 
ing  and  influence.  Their  uniforms  were  gorgeous,  and 
they  were  well  mounted,  but  when  they  moved  off  at  a 
pace  the  dignity  of  the  occasion  was  lost  in  the  eyes  of 
a  cavalryman  trained  in  our  school.  There  is  a  mili- 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  271 


tary  academy  there,  organized  by  Lieutenant  Lemley  of 
the  Third  United  States  Artillery. 

The  people  of  Bogota  are  very  kindly  and  courteous, 
and  no  women  I  have  ever  seen  surpassed  these  in  the 
grace  and  dignity  of  their  manners  or  in  the  purity 
of  their  lives.  They  are  devoted  wives,  mothers,  and 
Christians.  If  Colombia  does  not  increase  her  popula 
tion  by  immigration,  she  has  a  sure  dependence  in  her 
home  production.  One  noble  matron  of  Antiochia,  who 
was  married  at  thirteen,  contributed  seven  daughters  and 
thirty  sons  to  the  population  of  her  State.  They  were 
all  living  when  I  last  saw  them. 

It  is  quite  remarkable  that  a  country  so  surpassingly 
rich  should  continue  in  this  age  so  secluded  and  unde 
veloped.  With  a  sea-coast  of  vast  extent  on  her  eastern 
and  western  shores,  she  has  harbors  and  bays  of  absolute 
safety,  and  the  healthfulness  of  her  seaports  is  at  least 
equal  to  our  own.  Yet  we  have  no  trade  there,  and 
except  the  Pacific  Mail  Line,  we  have  no  American 
steamers  plying  thither.  The  English,  German,  and 
French  do  most  of  the  transportation.  Mr.  Wheeler 
states  that  thirty-two  steamers  visit  Colombia  every 
month,  of  which  fifteen  are  British  and  only  three 
American. 

The  social  life  of  Bogota  is  very  attractive;  the 
dinners  and  balls  are  sumptuous  and  elegant.  At  one 
of  the  latter  I  saw  several  hundred  ladies  and  gentle 
men,  and  many  of  the  dresses  were  from  Worth.  The 
races  are  always  largely  attended  by  the  ladies.  A  mili 
tary  band  of  music  is  on  the  ground,  and  a  battalion  of 
troops  lines  both  sides  of  the  track  for  half  the  quarter 
stretch,  to  prevent  accident.  There  were  sixty  coaches 
occupied  by  families,  which  were  all  made  to  keep  in 
line  and  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  track.  Several 


272  RECOLLECTIONS 


hundred  gentlemen,  well  mounted,  galloped  at  pleasure 
about  the  field;  but  the  racing  was  very  poor,  both 
horses  and  riders  being  untrained. 

We  had  good  shooting  in  Colombia.  On  one  occa 
sion  I  was  invited  to  the  hospitable  hacienda  of  Mr. 
Urdanata,  to  shoot  ducks.  His  house  is  one  of  the 
finest  on  the  plain.  He  and  his  wife  speak  English  per 
fectly,  as  do  many  of  the  well-bred  Colombians.  Not 
long  before  our  visit,  they  had  entertained  over  one  hun 
dred  guests  for  three  days  in  their  home.  There  were 
several  handsome  parlors,  and  the  usual  sitting-room 
contained  a  small  library.  In  this  room  I  counted 
twenty-five  guns  of  various  sorts.  My  host  bought  his 
shot-guns  in  England,  and  his  rifles  in  the  United 
States.  In  the  presses  of  that  room  were  stores  of  am 
munition  sufficient  to  blow  up  the  whole  establishment. 
Urdanata' s  especial  gun  weighs  about  fifteen  pounds, 
and  is  calibre  No.  8.  The  charge  is  six  drachms  of 
powder  and  three  ounces  of  shot,  and  it  sounds  over  the 
water  like  a  small  cannon.  I  repeatedly  saw  him  kill  a 
duck  at  two  hundred  yards'  distance.  While  we  were 
with  him,  we  usually  bagged  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
ducks  daily,  and  he  always  got  more  than  all  the  rest  of 
the  party  together.  On  a  hunt  made  after  we  left  him,  he 
told  me  he  bagged  seven  hundred  ducks  in  six  days. 
I  thought  our  Colt  guns  shot  much  better  than  his  Lan- 
casters.  On  the  water  it  was  easy  to  compare  the 
ranges. 

My  intercourse  with  the  government  was  always  of 
the  most  agreeable  character.  President  Holguin  is  a 
gentleman  of  most  affable  and  attractive  manner,  and  a 
man  of  eloquence  and  ability.  His  appearance  is  very 
pleasing  and  graceful,  especially  on  horseback.  In  my 
long  intercourse  with  him  and  the  Minister  of  Foreign 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  273 


Relations,  Dr.  Restrepo,  I  rarely  proposed  any  measure 
of  common  interest  to  the  United  States  and  Colombia 
which  was  not  acceded  to,  unless  the  claim  was  for 
money,  when  I  was  invariably  postponed  or  denied;  for 
they  have  no  more  money  than  they  need  themselves. 

The  emerald  mines  near  Bogota  are  the  finest  and 
probably  the  only  emerald  mines  now  worked  in  the 
world.  Not  far  from  them  is  a  vast  salt  mine.  Both 
of  these  enterprises  are  the  property  of  the  government, 
and  yield  a  good  revenue.  There  are  also  large  iron  and 
coal  mines  near  by,  and  a  foundry  employing  six  hundred 
hands.  Gold  mines  are  numerous  in  many  parts  of  the 
country,  and  most  of  these  are  owned  by  English  capi 
talists.  The  aggregate  yield  of  gold  is  only  $6,000,000 
annually.  There  are  also  silver,  copper,  and  lead;  and 
lately  quicksilver  has  been  discovered.  Very  unwisely, 
the  government  exacts  a  heavy  tax  on  all  mining  machin 
ery  brought  into  the  country. 

The  important  question  now  is,  Why  have  we  not 
trade  with  this  most  beautiful  and  fruitful  of  all  the 
regions  of  the  earth  ?  and  what  can  be  done  to  promote 
our  commercial  relations?  The  Spanish  language,  with 
which  for  many  reasons  we  should  be  familiar,  is  rarely 
taught  in  our  schools.  There  is  not  a  school  that  I 
know  of  south  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  in  which 
Spanish  is  taught.  Most  of  us  have  spent  eight  or  ten 
years  of  our  boyhood  in  learning  Latin  and  Greek,  and 
to  what  end? 

This  Colombian  trade  must  be  worked  up  by  commer 
cial  travellers  who  can  speak  Spanish  well.  American 
merchants  should  have  sample-rooms  in  Bogota  and 
other  large  towns.  Taxes  should  be  adjusted  to  encour 
age  commercial  intercourse  between  the  countries.  The 
packing  of  goods  for  the  Colombian  trade  is  peculiar. 


274  RECOLLECTIONS 


Flour  for  that  trade  is  sent  out  in  bags  coated  inside 
with  a  paste  of  their  own  contents.  Yorkshire  hams  are 
protected  by  water-tight  arid  air-tight  cloths,  and  keep 
for  a  long  time  sweet  and  good.  Dress-patterns  and  dry- 
goods  must  be  of  a  certain  length,  no  more  and  no  less, 
and  every  pack  should  weigh  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  pounds,  or  half  a  cargo.  There  are  many  other 
practical  details  essential  to  this  trade,  as  the  commercial 
traveller  will  learn.  A  railroad  from  the  Magdalena  to 
the  Plain  of  Bogota  is  of  vast  importance,  and  will 
pay  well.  The  mail  facilities  are  few  and  very  insuffi 
cient.  Sixty  days  are  needed  to  send  a  letter  and  re 
ceive  an  answer,  and  a  large  part  of  the  business  of 
the  Legation  is  crowded  into  one  or  two  days.  Being 
of  an  active  temperament,  I  occupied  much  of  my 
leisure  time  in  excursions  throughout  the  country, 
posting  myself  as  to  the  people,  productions,  etc.,  and 
going  up  and  down  the  Andes  many  times  by  the  dif 
ferent  routes  to  the  Magdalena. 

One  day  Mr.  Vaughan  came  up  from  the  Magdalena 
in  his  dog-cart.  The  road  was  new,  and  his  was  the 
first  vehicle  that  had  passed  over  it,  but  the  grading  was 
uniform,  and  a  good  horse  could  trot  up  or  down  it. 
Vaughan  and  I  messed  together  in  Bogota  for  about  two 
months.  When  he  first  arrived,  he  invited  me  to  go 
back  with  him  in  his  dog-cart,  down  this  Cambao  road 
to  his  country  home.  I  promptly  accepted  his  invita 
tion,  and  he  was  never  satisfied  after  that  until  he  had 
me  safely  landed  as  his  guest  in  his  comfortable  estab 
lishment.  The  down  trip  was  much  more  dangerous 
than  the  up.  The  road,  for  the  greater  part  of  its  length, 
was  six  feet  four  inches  wide,  and  several  times  we  left 
our  wheel-tracks  over  the  brink  of  the  mountain  down 
which  we  might  have  rolled  over  two  thousand  feet.  We 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  275 


had  in  harness  a  great  clay-bank  brute  with  white  legs, 
who  was  as  big  a  fool  as  Sam  Patch,  and  would  have 
jumped  with  him  down  the  falls  of  Niagara.  Just  as 
we  began  to  descend  the  mountain,  a  peacock  paraded 
himself  in  front  of  us,  and  elevating  his  tail  lifted  up 
his  voice  in  that  terrible  cry  which  is  characteristic  of 
that  bird.  At  the  first  note  our  clay-bank  spun  around 
and  darted  at  full  speed  up  the  mountain,  until  he  met 
our  pack-train  coming  calmly  down  behind  us.  Vaughan 
was  then  able  to  stop  him  and  turn  him  back.  Fortu 
nately,  the  road  just  there  was  broad  and  good,  or  we 
should  have  all  gone  to  Sam  Patch. 

That  evening  we  halted  for  the  night  at  a  large  spring 
of  fine  water  in  a  fertile  valley  surrounded  by  mountains 
ten  or  twelve  thousand  feet  high.  Many  of  them  were 
dotted  with  farms  and  pastures  extending  to  their  very 
summits.  There  were  several  adobe  houses  clustered 
together  near  the  spring,  and  we  rented  one  of  them  for 
the  night.  The  family  moved  out  with  all  their  belong 
ings,  swept  up  the  rooms,  and  we  took  possession. 
Swinging  our  hammocks,  we  took  our  dinner  of  cold 
fowl,  tongue,  etc.,  lighted  our  cigars,  and  made  our 
selves  easy  for  the  night.  About  ten  o'clock  a  row 
broke  out  among  the  peons  outside,  of  whom  there 
were  about  twenty  of  both  sexes,  who  were  clamoring 
and  fighting.  The  blows  and  imprecations  fell  fast  and 
furious,  and  the  fray  grew  more  violent,  until  Vaughan 
sprang  out  of  his  hammock  and  took  his  pistol,  saying, 
"I  must  put  a  stop  to  that."  He  spoke  Spanish  well. 
I  couldn't  speak  much  Spanish,  but  I  could  shoot.  So 
I  took  my  pistol  and  followed  Vaughan,  with  a  vague 
idea  of  doing  whatever  he  might  tell  me.  Just  at  this 
moment  the  police  arrived,  and  quieted  the  combatants, 
by  carrying  off  one  of  them  who  had  been  on  the  ground 


276  RECOLLECTIONS 


for  some  time.  We  then  retired  to  sleep  well  until 
morning,  when  we  paid  our  rent  of  five  cents,  and 
moved  on. 

We  reached  the  river  at  Cambao  that  evening  before 
sunset.  The  river  is  about  four  hundred  yards  wide 
there,  deep  and  rapid,  so  we  were  ferried  over  in  large 
canoes,  our  horses  swimming  by  their  sides,  and  landed 
quite  safely  and  easily  on  the  other  shore,  where  we  spent 
the  night  very  comfortably.  During  the  night  a  vampire 
sucked  my  horse,  leaving  a  small  mark  upon  his  neck, 
from  which  a  drop  or  two  of  blood  had  oozed.  We 
mounted  our  dog-cart  at  daylight,  and  drove  ten  miles 
over  a  level  road  to  the  fine  establishment  of  Santuario. 

Vaughan  had  excited  my  interest  the  night  before  by 
his  account  of  a  tiger  that  had  roamed  the  woods  through 
which  we  passed.  Perhaps  his  vivid  narrative  may 
account  for  the  urgency  with  which  I  insisted  on  going 
no  further  that  night.  Near  the  roadside,  he  pointed 
out  the  tiger-trap,  some  ten  yards  away.  We  were  very 
comfortable  at  Santuario,  where  my  son  joined  us,  and 
we  spent  several  days  very  pleasantly.  The  young  men 
killed  some  pheasants,  pigeons,  quail,  and  a  couple  of 
the  pretty  little  deer  of  the  plains.  The  mountain-sides 
and  pastures  were  all  burning,  but  we  saw  no  snakes. 
From  Santuario  we  drove  over  to  the  town  of  Ambulema, 
where  are  the  cigar  factory  and  fine  residence  of  Mr. 
Vaughan.  This  was  the  largest  establishment  I  was  in 
while  in  the  country,  and  was  perhaps  the  handsomest 
house.  The  parlors,  bedrooms,  library,  and  billiard- 
rooms  were  all  paved  with  marble.  The  china  and 
silverware  bear  the  name  of  the  estate,  and  the  excel 
lent  table  is  supplied  with  wines,  sauces,  and  canned 
luxuries  from  London.  An  ice-machine  gave  us  ice. 

Here  I  waited  several  days  for  an  up-river  boat,  on 


OF    A   VIRGINIAN  277 


which  I  went  up  to  Giradot.  The  river  was  very  low, 
and  at  some  of  the  rapids  the  whole  crew  went  over 
board  with  a  hawser,  which  they  fastened  to  a  tree  on  the 
bank,  and  then  proceeded  to  warp  the  boat  up  the 
rapids.  As  there  were  only  two  feet  of  water,  this  was 
very  slow  work,  but  we  reached  Giradot  the  second  day 
by  noon,  and  General  H.  E.  Morgan,  an  old  Virginian, 
was  waiting  on  this  shore  to  take  me  to  his  hospitable 
and  comfortable  home,  where  I  passed  the  night.  Next 
morning  he  ordered  a  train  to  be  ready  by  eight  o'clock 
and  accompanied  me  to  the  terminus  of  the  railroad, 
now  at  Las  Juntas,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  where 
he  detailed  a  bright  Lieutenant  Gomez,  his  aide-de 
camp,  who  speaks  English,  to  escort  me  to  Bogota. 

This  is  the  pleasantest  of  all  the  mountain  roads. 
There  are  several  little  towns  on  it,  where  good  quarters 
can  be  had,  and  beautiful  brawling  streams  cross  and 
run  along  it;  and,  except  for  a  short  distance,  it  is  prac 
ticable  for  wagons,  and  affords  the  best  route  for  a  rail 
road.  Several  reconnoissances  have  been  made,  but  the 
government  and  the  contractors  have  never  yet  come  to 
terms  so  definite  as  to  lead  to  this  great  result.  We 
found  comfortable  lodgings  in  the  little  town  of  Anna- 
poyma,  and  by  midday  next  day  I  was  met  by  my  friend 
and  Secretary  of  Legation,  Mr.  Boschell,  with  a  coach, 
and  by  eventide  was  back  in  my  own  quarters.  I  do 
not  believe  that  any  dog-cart  has  been  down  the  Cam- 
bao  road  since.  It  was  a  trip  of  great  interest  and 
some  excitement  to  us,  especially  to  Vaughan,  who  felt 
responsible  for  me,  and  never  drew  an  easy  breath  while 
I  was  in  the  cart  with  him. 

General  Henry  Morgan,  now  Enrique  Morgan,  was 
a  native  of  Morefield  Valley,  Virginia.  His  family  is 
well  known  and  esteemed  in  that  region.  When  sixteen 


278  RECOLLECTIONS 


years  old,  he  enlisted  in  Stonewall  Jackson's  corps,  and 
served  in  it  throughout  the  war  between  the  States.  On 
the  surrender  of  Lee,  he  went  away  from  Virginia  to 
seek  his  fortunes  in  some  country  where  he  would  feel 
freer  than  in  his  native  land.  From  California  he  went 
down  to  Colombia,  where  he  soon  found  employment. 
He  liked  the  country  and  the  people,  and  became  a 
citizen  of  it.  He  served  his  adopted  land  with  dis 
tinction  in  three  revolutions,  won  the  grade  of  general, 
and  is  now  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  engineer 
troops,  five  battalions,  of  the  Colombian  Army.  His 
courage  and  fidelity  have  won  for  him  the  confidence 
and  love  of  the  people. 

The  ladies  of  Bogota  wear  black  upon  the  streets, 
with  mantillas,  often  of  costly  black  lace,  on  their  heads 
instead  of  bonnets.  Only  occasionally  are  the  latter 
worn  by  some  one  who  has  been  in  the  United  States  or 
Europe.  Many  of  them  have  small  and  beautiful  feet 
and  hands.  They  are  usually  of  the  brunette  type,  and 
have  very  gentle  and  winning  manners. 

There  is  a  large  asylum  for  foundlings,  that  of  St. 
Vincent  de  Paul.  It  is  in  excellent  discipline  and 
organization,  under  the  care  of  the  sisters  of  the 
church.  The  Lady  Superior  and  her  second  in  com 
mand  accompanied  us  in  our  visit  to  the  various  depart 
ments  of  the  building,  and  seemed  much  pleased  with 
my  commendation  of  their  good  work,  as  with  the 
small  donation  which  I  left  as  a  climax  to  my  praise. 
I  said  on  leaving,  "There  is  no  such  institution  as  this 
in  my  country."  They  replied,  "  Mil  gracias,  Senor"; 
when  I  added,  "  Because  we  Protestants  are  too  good  to 
need  such  an  one."  At  which  preposterous  statement 
these  ancient  virgins  shook  their  ample  sides  with  con 
vulsions  of  incredulous  laughter.  All  of  the  children 


OF    A    VIRGINIAN  279 


are  of  mothers  of  the  lower  classes,  to  whom  the  institu 
tion  is  so  great  a  boon  as  to  be  considered  by  some 
people  a  very  doubtful  factor  in  the  cause  of  morality. 

My  own  home  in  Bogota  was  as  comfortable  and  com 
plete  as  was  possible  when  so  far  away  from  my  nearest 
kindred.  It  was  presided  over  by  the  lovely  wife  of 
my  Secretary  of  Legation,  and  these  good  friends, 
more  than  any  others,  contributed  to  the  happiness  of 
my  stay.  The  business  of  the  Legation  was  con 
ducted  in  such  a  manner  as  to  receive  the  cordial  ap 
proval  of  our  government,  repeatedly  expressed,  and 
when  the  result  of  the  presidential  election  was  known, 
the  Secretary  of  Foreign  Relations  called  at  the  Ameri 
can  Legation  to  inform  me  that  measures  had  been  taken 
by  his  government  to  urge  upon  the  government  of  the 
United  States  that  no  change  should  be  made  in  the 
personnel  of  that  legation.  Surprised  and  gratified  as  I 
was  by  a  tribute  so  unusual,  I  cherished  but  little  hope  of 
its  influence  upon  the  result. 

The  party  axe  fell  promptly,  and  when  I  met  my  suc 
cessor,  Mr.  John  T.  Abbot,  of  New  Hampshire,  I  felt 
that  in  this  case  no  injury  could  ensue  to  the  public 
weal.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  high  ability,  self-reliant, 
courageous,  and  generous.  My  removal  caused  him 
genuine  regret,  and  he  and  his  gentle  family  showed  their 
warm  interest  and  sympathy,  and  he  accompanied  me 
in  person  on  my  lonely  journey  from  Bogota  to  Honda, 
an  arduous  six  days'  mule-ride  for  him,  because  he 
could  not  bear  to  see  me  go  alone  and  friendless  then. 


Norfeoooli 

J.  S.  Gushing  &  Co.  —  Berwick  &  Smith. 
Boston,  Mass.,  U.S.A. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED   BELOW 

RENEWED  BOOKS  ARE  SUBJECT  TO  IMMEDIATE 
RECALL 


LIBRARY,   UNIVERSITY   OF   CALIFORNIA,   DAVIS 

Book  SHp-55m-lO,'68(J4048s8)458— A  ol.  5 


614542 


E415.9 
Maury,  D.H.          M3 

Recollections  of  a  A3 
Virginian  in  the 
Mexican,  Indian,  and 
Civil  Wars. 

IN  CASE. 

CANNOT  BE  REBOUND, 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY   OF    CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


